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Nelson, Ken G.

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1973-82 (District 59B); House 1983-92 (District 62A)

Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus

Counties Served: Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/22/1936

Birth Place: Minnesota

Birth County: Grant

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis

Occupation (when first elected): Clergyman

EDUCATION

Sri Venkateswara University, India; Attended College; Tirupati, India; also listed as SriVenkastesvera
Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary; B.D.; 1967
Augsburg College; B.A.; Literature, 1961
University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute; Attended Graduate School; American Studies, Postgraduate Work
Luther-Northwestern Theological Seminary; M.S.T.; Theology

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor's Crime Commission; 19?? to 19??

Military: United States Army (France); 1954 to 1956

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Single (when first elected); Susan "Sue"
Children: Three children: (2 sons-twins)

Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

He was a member of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1979-80.

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Total Days Served: 7308

SESSIONS SERVED

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1991

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Oath Date: 1/8/1991

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator/Consultant

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Education
Education: Education Finance Division (Chair)
Education: Higher Education Division
Rules and Legislative Administration
Ways and Means

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1989

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/8/1988

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/3/1989

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator/Consultant

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Education
Education: Education Finance Division (Chair)
Rules and Legislative Administration
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax
Ways and Means

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1987

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator/Consultant, Nelson Associates

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Education
Education: Education Finance Division (Chair)
Education: School Facilities
Higher Education
Rules and Legislative Administration
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax Division
Ways and Means

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1985

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/6/1984

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/8/1985

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator/Consultant

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Crime and Family Law
Crime and Family Law: Family Law
Education
Education: Education Finance Division
Local and Urban Affairs
Local and Urban Affairs: Metropolitan Affairs

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73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1983

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
Oath Date: 1/4/1983

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Education
Education: Education Finance Division (Chair)
Energy
Energy: Energy and Economics
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Environment

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1981

Body: House

District: 59B

Elected: 11/4/1980

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
Oath Date: 1/6/1981

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Commerce and Economic Development: Oil Decontrol Task Force
Education
Education: School Aids Division
Energy (Chair)
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Recreation and Open Space
Regulated Industries

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71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1979

Body: House

District: 59B

Elected: 11/7/1978

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
Oath Date: 1/3/1979

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice: Juvenile, Criminal Law and Procedures
Education
Education: School Aids Division
Energy and Utilities (Chair) [He was Chair in 1980 only.]
Energy and Utilities: Alternative Energy Systems

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1977

Body: House

District: 59B

Elected: 11/2/1976

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 12/31/1978
Oath Date: 1/4/1977

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Criminal Justice
Education
Environment and Natural Resources

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69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1975

Body: House

District: 59B

Elected: 11/5/1974

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/6/1975 to 1/2/1977
Oath Date: 1/7/1975

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Crime Prevention and Corrections
Education
Environment and Natural Resources

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1973

Body: House

District: 59B

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/5/1975
Oath Date: 1/2/1973

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Clergyman

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus

Committees:

Crime Prevention and Corrections
Education
Environmental Preservation and Natural Resources
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Knutson, Steve. "Members Leave House for New Experiences (Ken Nelson)." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 17, 1992, p. 17-18.

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.

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Portrait of Ken G. Nelson. c. 1991. Photo credit: Minnesota House of Representatives.

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