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Lessard, Bob B.

Senate 1977-2002 (District 3)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Aitkin, Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/18/1931
Birth Place: ,
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): International Falls
Occupation (when first elected): Operator, Viking Cruises (Hunting, Fishing and Scenic Cruise Operation on Rainy Lake)

EDUCATION

International Falls High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1949

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Iron Range Resoures and Rehabilitation Board (Vice-Chair); 19?? to ?
Military: United States Army Intelligence, Security Agency (Korean War/Conflict); 1951 to 1954
State Agency: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Community Outreach); 02/2011 to 20??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Married: Toni Lynn (no longer listed in 1994)
Children: Five children: Shawn, Wendy, Brett, Sean, Kelly
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: environment and natural resources, human services, transportation and infrastructure, labor and small business, elderly/senior citizens, rules, highways, energy, veterans affairs.

He was raised in International Falls, Minnesota.

He was an unsuccessful write-in candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1974 election.

In 2018, he ran for attorney general but he lost the primary.

Total Days Served: 9499

SESSIONS SERVED

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis
Occupation: Small Business, Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Independence Party Notes: He ran as an Independent, but joined the Independence Party on Jan. 3, 2001. He did not caucus with either the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party or the Republican party.
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Commerce
  • Commerce: Banking
  • Commerce: Consumer Protection and Regulated Industries
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Income and Sales Tax Budget Division
  • Telecommunications, Energy and Utilities

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis
Occupation: Small Business, Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Notes: He switched to Independent status on July 18, 2000. After his party status switch he did not caucus with either the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party or the Republican party.
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources/Agriculture and Rural Development/State Government Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
  • Local and Metropolitan Government
  • Rules and Administration
  • State Government Finance

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis
Occupation: Small Business, Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources/Agriculture and Rural Development/State Government Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
  • Local and Metropolitan Government
  • Rules and Administration
  • State Government Finance

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis
Occupation: Small Business, Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters
  • Gaming Regulation
  • Metropolitan and Local Government
  • Metropolitan and Local Government: Intergovernmental Relations
  • Rules and Administration

78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis
Occupation: Small Business: Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters
  • Metropolitan and Local Government
  • Metropolitan and Local Government: Intergovernmental Relations
  • Metropolitan and Local Government: Metropolitan and Local Government Tax Division
  • Rules and Administration
  • Veterans and General Legislation

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Small Business: Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development: Joint Agriculture and Rural Development/Environment and Natural Resources Ad Hoc
  • Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters
  • Finance
  • Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Division
  • Local Government
  • Rules and Administration
  • Veterans and General Legislation

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Fishing Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection - Ex Officio Member
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife - Ex Officio Member
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters - Ex Officio Member
  • Finance
  • Finance: State Departments Division
  • Local and Urban Government
  • Local and Urban Government: Land Use, Zoning and Planning
  • Rules and Administration
  • Veterans and Military Affairs

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Tourist Outfitter, Hunting and Fishing
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
  • Finance
  • Finance: Agriculture/Transportation and Semi-States Division
  • General Legislation and Public Gaming
  • Rules and Administration
  • Veterans

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
  • Finance
  • Finance: Agriculture/Transportation/Semi-States
  • Rules and Administration
  • Veterans and General Legislation (Chair)

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
  • Finance
  • Finance: Agriculture/Transportation/Semi-States
  • Rules and Administration
  • Veterans and General Legislation (Chair)

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Operator, Viking Cruises (a Hunting, Fishing and Scenic Cruise Operation on Rainy Lake)
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Criminal Law
  • Judiciary: Judicial Administration (Chair)
  • Local Government and Urban Affairs
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Rural and Commercial

71st Legislative Session (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Operator, Viking Cruises (a Hunting-Fishing and Scenic Operation on Rainy Lake)
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wild Life
  • General Legislation and Administrative Rules
  • General Legislation and Administrative Rules: General Legislation (Chair) [He became the Chair after Ed Schrom died.]
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Law Reform
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Highways and Bridges
  • Transportation: Pipelines-1979
  • Transportation: Rural and Commercial Transportation
  • Veterans' Affairs

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: International Falls
Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Operator, Viking Cruises (Hunting, Fishing and Scenic Cruise Operation on Rainy Lake)
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
  • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Law Reform
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Public Transportation
  • Transportation: Transit