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Clark, Karen J.

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1981-82 (District 59A); House 1983-92 (District 60A); House 1993-2012 (District 61A); House 2013-2018 (District 62A)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 7/23/1945

Birth Place: , Oklahoma

Birth County:

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Female

Religion: Catholic

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis

Occupation (when first elected): Nurse-Practitioner, Hennepin County Health Department

EDUCATION

Edgerton Public High School; Secondary; 1963
College of St. Teresa, Winona; B.S.; Nursing, Training as a Nurse Practitioner in OB/GYN
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; M.P.A.; Public Administration

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Council on the Economic Status of Women; 19?? to 19??

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans; 19?? to 19??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse/Partner: Single (when first elected); Jacquelyn Zita (around 1989)
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

She was the first openly gay person to run and be elected to the Minnesota Legislature, without previously having held a seat in it. She was the first openly lesbian member to serve in the Minnesota Legislature. She is also the longest serving openly lesbian member to serve in a state legislature in the United States. Allan Spear was the first openly gay member of the Minnesota Legislature.

She grew up on a sharecropping farm in Rock County, Minnesota.

Her mother was Mayor of a small town.

Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005.

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Total Days Served: 13881

SESSIONS SERVED

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/6/2019
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2017 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2017 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture Finance Minutes
Environment & Natural Resources Policy and Finance Minutes
Job Growth & Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Minutes

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89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/4/2014

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/5/2015 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/6/2015

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2015 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2015 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture Finance Minutes
Environment & Natural Resources Policy & Finance Minutes
Job Growth & Energy Affordability Policy & Finance Minutes

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment Minutes
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance Minutes
Housing Finance and Policy (Chair) Minutes
Jobs and Economic Development Finance and Policy Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: House

District: 61A

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Oath Date: 1/4/2011

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
2012 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2012 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment Minutes
Jobs and Economic Development Finance Minutes
Redistricting Minutes

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2009

Body: House

District: 61A

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/6/2009

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: College Instructor; Holistic Medicine, College of St. Catherine; and Women in Politics, University of Minnesota

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2010 1st Sp.S. - Author
2010 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author 2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Finance Minutes
Finance: Capital Investment Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division Minutes
Finance: Housing Finance and Policy and Public Health Finance Division (Chair) Minutes

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2007

Body: House

District: 61A

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: College Instructor; Adjunct Faculty, College of St. Catherine and the University of Minnesota

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2007 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2007 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Finance Minutes
Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division: Drinking Water Source Protection Minutes
Finance: Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division (Chair) Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: House

District: 61A

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/4/2005

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: College Instructor/Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce and Financial Institutions Minutes
Jobs and Economic Opportunity Policy and Finance Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: House

District: 61A

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Government

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce, Jobs, and Economic Development Minutes
Commerce, Jobs, and Economic Development: Economic Development and Tourism Division Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Jobs and Economic Development Finance Minutes

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: House

District: 61A

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Oath Date: 1/3/2001

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator/College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
2002 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2002 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce, Jobs, and Economic Development Minutes
Jobs and Economic Development Finance Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: House

District: 61A

Elected: 11/3/1998

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/4/1999 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/5/1999

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce Minutes
Jobs and Economic Development Finance Minutes
Jobs and Economic Development Policy Minutes

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1997

Body: House

District: 61A

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 1/3/1999
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Economic Development and International Trade
Economic Development and International Trade: Economic Development
Economic Development and International Trade: Economic Development Finance Division
Economic Development and International Trade: Housing and Housing Finance Division (Chair)
Financial Institutions and Insurance Minutes

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1995

Body: House

District: 61A

Elected: 11/8/1994

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/3/1995

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance
Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance: Transportation Finance Division
Housing (Chair)
Housing: Reclaiming and Recycling Vacant Housing

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1993

Body: House

District: 61A

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Commerce and Economic Development
Commerce and Economic Development: Economic Equality
Commerce and Economic Development: International Trade, Technology and Economic Development Division
Ethics
Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services: Health and Housing Finance Division
Housing (Chair)
Housing: Manufactured Housing

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1991

Body: House

District: 60A

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Oath Date: 1/8/1991

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Human Resources Division
Economic Development
Economic Development: International Trade and Technology Division
Economic Development: Quality Workforce and Competitiveness
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Housing (Chair)
Housing: Community Revitalization

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1989

Body: House

District: 60A

Elected: 11/8/1988

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/3/1989

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Health and Human Services Division
Economic Development
Economic Development: Community Stabilization and Development Division (Chair)
Financial Institutions and Housing
Financial Institutions and Housing: Housing Division

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1987

Body: House

District: 60A

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator/Ob-Gyn Nurse Practitioner

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Economic Development and Housing
Economic Development and Housing: Job Development and Training (Chair)
Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations: Pensions
Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services: Social Services
Regulated Industries

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1985

Body: House

District: 60A

Elected: 11/6/1984

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/8/1985

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Nurse

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Governmental Operations
Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services: Health Care
Local and Urban Affairs
Local and Urban Affairs: Metropolitan Affairs

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73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1983

Body: House

District: 60A

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
Oath Date: 1/4/1983

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Nurse

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations: Jobs Creation and Unemployment Issues (Chair)
Health and Welfare
Health and Welfare: Departmental Affairs
Local and Urban Affairs
Local and Urban Affairs: Physical and Economic Development

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1981

Body: House

District: 59A

Elected: 11/4/1980

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
Oath Date: 1/6/1981

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Nurse-Practitioner, Hennepin County Health Department

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations: Pensions and Investments
Health and Welfare
Health and Welfare: Departmental Affairs
Local and Urban Affairs
Local and Urban Affairs: Economic Development
Regulated Industries
Regulated Industries: Rates Under Bond-Interim Rates

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

"The Legislator. How 1st Termers See the Job." Interim, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, November/December 1980, p. 18.

News Sources

The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.

District News Files

2000 (61A)

2001 (61A)

2002 (61A)

2003 (61A)

2004 (61A)

2005 (61A)

2006 (61A)

2007 (61A)

2008 (61A)

2009 (61A)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Senator Linda Berglin poses with Representative Linda Wejcman on her right and Representative Karen Clark on her left in the Senate Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1991. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

Senator Linda Berglin poses with Representative Peter McLaughlin and Representative Karen Clark in the Senate Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1985-1990. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

Senator Linda Berglin poses with Representative Karen Clark in the House Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1983-1986. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

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