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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..

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 4195

    SESSIONS SERVED

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/2003
    Body: Senate
    District: 37
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Burnsville
    Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 6/29/2004 (unfinished term)
    Oath Date: 1/7/2003
    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.
    term photo
    Click to view

    82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2001
    Body: Senate
    District: 36
    Elected: 11/7/2000
    Residence: Burnsville
    Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
    Oath Date: 1/3/2001
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1999
    Body: Senate
    District: 36
    Elected: 11/5/1996
    Residence: Burnsville
    Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
    Oath Date: 1/7/1997
    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   Convened Date: 1/7/1997
    Body: Senate
    District: 36
    Elected: 11/5/1996
    Residence: Burnsville
    Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
    Oath Date: 1/7/1997
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1995
    Body: Senate
    District: 36
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Burnsville
    Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
    Oath Date: 1/5/1993
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1993
    Body: Senate
    District: 36
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Burnsville
    Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
    Oath Date: 1/5/1993
    Counties Represented: Dakota
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: Education Funding Division
    • Family Services
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Joint Crime Prevention and Judiciary Privacy
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    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.

    District News Files

    2000 (36)
    2001 (36)
    2002 (36)
    2003 (37)
    2004 (37)
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    Photographs

    Senator David Knutson listens during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1993. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

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