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    Freeman, Michael O. "Mike"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    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.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    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

    OTHER INFORMATION

    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.

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