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Freeman, Michael O. "Mike"

Senate 1983-90 (District 40)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/7/1948
Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth County: Hennepin
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Mike
City of Residence (when first elected): Richfield
Occupation (when first elected): Trial Attorney; Popham Haik Law Firm, Minneapolis

EDUCATION

Rutgers College; B.A.; 1970
University of Minnesota, Law School; J.D.; 1974

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Judicial Administration: United States District Court (Law Clerk for United States District Court Judge Earl Larson); 1974 to 1975
Judicial Administration: United States 8th Circuit Court of Appeals (Law Clerk for United States 8th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Gerald W. Heaney); 1975 to 1976
Municipal Board/Commission: Richfield, Minnesota (Housing and Redevelopment Commission); 1979 to 1983
County Attorney: Hennepin County, Minnesota; 1991 to 1999 [Elected]
County Attorney: Hennepin County, Minnesota; 01/2007 to 01/2023

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Teresa "Terry" Mathison
Children: Three children: Katie, Beth, and Matthew
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: education, housing, energy, local government, senior citizens, employment.

He was the son of former Governor of Minnesota Orville L. Freeman.

He sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement for Minnesota Governor in 1994 and 1998.

Total Days Served: 2926

SESSIONS SERVED

76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 40
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Trial Attorney; Popham Haik Law Firm, Minneapolis
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Agriculture and Rural Development: Agricultural Credit
  • Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural Development
  • Commerce
  • Commerce: Banking
  • Commerce: Insurance
  • Finance
  • Finance: Education Division
  • Finance: Health and Human Services Division
  • Governmental Operations
Leadership Position: Majority Whip

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 40
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Trial Attorney; Popham Haik Law Firm, Minneapolis
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Credit
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Products/Processing
  • Commerce
  • Commerce: Banking
  • Commerce: Insurance
  • Finance
  • Finance: Health and Human Services Division
  • Governmental Operations
Leadership Position: Majority Whip

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 40
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Trial Attorney; Popham Haik Law Firm, Minneapolis
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Economic Development and Commerce
  • Economic Development and Commerce: Consumer Protection
  • Economic Development and Commerce: Economic Development (Chair)
  • Energy and Housing
  • Energy and Housing: Research and Alternative Financing
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Judicial Administration
  • Judiciary: Privacy
  • Local and Urban Government
  • Local and Urban Government: Land Use, Planning and Zoning
  • Local and Urban Government: Urban Government

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 40
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Trial Attorney; Popham Haik Law Firm, Minneapolis
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Economic Development and Commerce
  • Economic Development and Commerce: Consumer Protection
  • Economic Development and Commerce: Economic Development (Chair)
  • Energy and Housing
  • Energy and Housing: Research and Alternative Financing
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Judicial Administration
  • Judiciary: Privacy
  • Local and Urban Government
  • Local and Urban Government: Urban Government
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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.

Archive Collections

Photographs

Senator Michael Freeman listens to a committee debate, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/1/1985. Photo credit: , Senate Media Services.
Senator Michael Freeman testifies in committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/1/1983. Photo credit: , Senate Media Services.