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Knutson, David L.

Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 1993-2002 (District 36); Senate 2003-2004 (District 37)

Party when first elected: Independent Republican

Counties Served: Dakota

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/24/1959

Birth Place: ,

Birth County:

Birth Country:

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Burnsville

Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

EDUCATION

Burnsville High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1978
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota; B.A.; Philosophy and Political Science, 1982
William Mitchell College of Law; J.D.; 1986

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Judge: 1st Judicial District, Dakota County, Minnesota; 06/29/2004 to ? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Laurie Sjoquist
Children: Two children: Ann and Tim
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Howard A. Knutson - Father

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: health care, education, K-12 education, taxes, environment, crime, state government finance reform, criminal justice.

He was appointed to a District Judge position in June 2004.

He was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1999-2000 and a newspaper article..

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Total Days Served: 4194

SESSIONS SERVED

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 37

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Burnsville

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 6/29/2004 (unfinished term)

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Crime Prevention and Public Safety [He was a member in 2003 only.]
Finance [He was a member in 2003 only.]
Finance: State Government Budget Division [He was a member in 2003 only.]
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Litigation Expenses
Rules and Administration: Senate Audit
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget

Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office

Session Notes: He was appointed to a District Judge position in June 2004. His exact resignation date is unclear.

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 36

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Burnsville

Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Education
Education: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division
Education: Technology
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters
Finance
Finance: State Government, Economic Development and Judiciary Budget Division
Jobs, Housing and Community Development
Rules and Administration: Redistricting

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 36

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Burnsville

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Children, Families and Learning
Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
Crime Prevention
Judiciary
Judiciary: Data Privacy and Information Policy
Judiciary: Family Law
Judiciary/Crime Prevention/Human Resources Finance: Crime Prevention and Judiciary Budget Division
Taxes
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 36

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Burnsville

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Children, Families and Learning
Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
Crime Prevention
Judiciary
Judiciary: Data Privacy and Information Policy
Judiciary: Family Law
Judiciary/Crime Prevention/Human Resources Finance: Crime Prevention and Judiciary Budget Division
Taxes
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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79th Legislative Session (1995-1996) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 36

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Burnsville

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Independent Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Crime Prevention
Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention Finance Division
Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Judiciary
Judiciary: Joint Crime Prevention and Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 36

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Burnsville

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Family Services
Judiciary
Judiciary: Joint Crime Prevention and Judiciary Privacy

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OTHER INFORMATION

Senate Photos

The photos in this collection were scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

Senator David Knutson listens during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota.

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

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