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    Dempsey, Terence M. "Terry"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1979-80 (District 28B); House 1981-92 (District 23A)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Brown, Cottonwood, Nicollet, Redwood

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 2/17/1932
    Birth Place: Henderson, Minnesota
    Birth County: Sibley
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Terry
    City of Residence (when first elected): New Ulm
    Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

    EDUCATION

    College of St. Thomas; B.S.; Political Science, also listed as a B.A.
    University of California, Hastings College of Law; J.D.; 1963

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor's Crime Commission, Region 9 (2 years); 19?? to 19??
    Military: United States Air Force (Pilot, 3 years); 19?? to 19??
    Municipal Attorney: New Ulm, Minnesota (City Attorney, 10 years); 19?? to 19??
    State Public Defender/Office: 5th Judicial District, Minnesota (Public Defender, 2 years); 19?? to 19??
    Judge: Minnesota's Judicial District Court; 1992 to 2002 [Appointed]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Board on Aging; 2002 to 01/04/2010 [Appointed]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Combative Sports Commission; 01/2010 to 20?? [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Janet
    Children: One child (15 foster children): Matthew (son)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Jerry Dempsey  - Brother

    GENERAL NOTES

    Religion reported by a family member.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 4878

    SESSIONS SERVED

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 5/11/1992 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Redwood
    Occupation: Attorney; Somsen, Dempsey, and Schade Law Firm
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Property Tax
    • Taxes: State Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Ways and Means
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
    Leadership Notes: He resigned from the Minnesota Legislature on May 11, 1992 due to his appointment as a Minnesota Judge.
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: He was appointed to become a Minnesota Judicial District Court Judge.
    term photo
    Click to view

    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Redwood
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law
    • Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division
    • Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division: Children's Justice
    • Judiciary: Privacy
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Property Tax
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Air Transportation
    • Ways and Means
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Redwood
    Occupation: Attorney; Partner in Somsen, Dempsey and Schade Law Firm
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Child Abuse/Child Protection
    • Judiciary: Crime and Family Law Division
    • Judiciary: Data Practices
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Property Tax Division
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Transportation Carriers
    • Ways and Means
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Redwood
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Budget
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Laws and Administration
    • Rules and Legislative Administration: Select Committee on the Staten Case (Chair)
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Local Government Finance Division (Chair)
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Special Subcommittee on Department of Transportation
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Redwood
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Law Reform
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division: Property Tax Policy and Administration Subcommittee
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Commercial and Passenger Transportation
    • Transportation: Highway and Motor Vehicle

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 28B
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Nicollet
    Occupation: Attorney; Partner, Somsen, Dempsey and Schade Law Firm
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Law Reform
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Local Government Financing
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Mineral Taxation
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Safety
    term photo
    Click to view

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 28B
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Nicollet
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Judiciary Law Reform
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Division II - Property and Natural Resources Division
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Bridges and Highways

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Price, Dave. "Members Leave House for New Experiences (Terry Dempsey)." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 17, 1992, p. 16.

    "IR Leader Uses 'Reason' to Keep Caucus In Line." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 28, 1992, p. 14.

    Price, Dave. "Dempsey Hopes to Avoid 'Arm-Twisting'." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 1, 1991, p. 11.


    Archive Collections
    Terry Dempsey Papers, 1978-1992 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections

    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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