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    Knuth, Daniel J. "Dan"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1983-88 (District 52B)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 7/3/1945
    Birth Place: Mabel, Minnesota
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death: 10/5/2020
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Dan
    City of Residence (when first elected): New Brighton
    Occupation (when first elected): Environmental Consultant

    EDUCATION

    Mabel High School; Secondary;
    Mankato State College; B.A.; Physical Geography
    Indiana University; M.A.; Physical Geography
    Indiana University; Ph.D.; Physical Geography

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Agency: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (Hydrologist); [Dates Unknown]
    Municipal Board/Commission: New Brighton, Minnesota (Planning Commission); 19?? to 19??
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Waste Management Board (Deputy Chair); 09/07/1988 to ? [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Joann Backlund
    Children: Two children: John (son); Katherine "Kate" (daughter)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Katherine Knuth  - Daughter
    Gordon Backlund  - Brother-in-Law

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: environmental issues and water resources. He authored legislation that created the Office of Pipeline Safety.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2074

    SESSIONS SERVED

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 52B
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: New Brighton
    Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 9/7/1988 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Environmental Consultant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-States Division
    • Economic Development and Housing
    • Economic Development and Housing: Housing and Community Development
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Future and Technology
    • Future and Technology: Futurist (Chair)
    • Future and Technology: Telecommunication
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: He was appointed to a Deputy Chair position on the Minnesota Waste Management Board. A special election was not held for this seat.

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 52B
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: New Brighton
    Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Environmental Consultant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Metropolitan Affairs
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Special Subcommittee on Department of Public Safety
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 52B
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: New Brighton
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Environmental Consultant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Environment and Natural Resources: Game and Fish
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Veterans Affairs and Miscellaneous Legislation
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Personnel and Administration

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Golden, Erin. "Dan Knuth: Former Minnesota State Representative: Lawmaker Helped to Shape State Environmental Policies." Star Tribune, October 21, 2020, p. B4.

    "Knuth, Dan." Star Tribune, October 11, 2020, p. B12



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

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