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Ness, Robert "Bob"

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1993-2002 (District 20A)

Party when first elected: Independent Republican

Counties Served: McLeod, Meeker, Stearns, Wright

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/14/1935

Birth Place:

Birth County:

Birth Country:

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion:

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Bob

City of Residence (when first elected): Dassel

Occupation (when first elected): Educator; Retired School Superintendent, 21 Years; Former Principal, 10 Years; Former Industrial Arts and Health Teacher, 3 Years/Consultant/Construction Manager

EDUCATION

Bemidji State University; B.S.; Health Education, Industrial Education
University of Minnesota; M.A.; Education, Educational Administration, Educational Specialist

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States House of Representatives (Part-Time Staff for United States Representative Collin Peterson); ? to 20??

School Board/Administration: Detroit Lakes, Minnesota (School Superintendent); 1970 to 1991

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Marianne
Children: Four children
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa.

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Total Days Served: 3654

SESSIONS SERVED

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: House

District: 20A

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Dassel

Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Oath Date: 1/3/2001

Counties Represented: McLeod, Meeker, Stearns, Wright

Occupation: Educator/Consultant/Construction Manager

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Finance (Chair) Minutes
Agriculture and Rural Development Policy Minutes
Education Policy Minutes
K-12 Education Finance Minutes

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: House

District: 20A

Elected: 11/3/1998

Residence: Dassel

Term of Office: 1/4/1999 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/5/1999

Counties Represented: McLeod, Meeker, Stearns, Wright

Occupation: Educator/Consultant/Construction Manager

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Finance (Chair) Minutes
Agriculture Policy Minutes
Education Policy Minutes
K-12 Education Finance Minutes

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1997

Body: House

District: 20A

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Dassel

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 1/3/1999
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: McLeod, Meeker, Stearns, Wright

Occupation: Educator/Consultant/Construction Manager

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Economic Development and International Trade
Economic Development and International Trade: International Trade
Education Minutes
Education: Education Planning and Transitions Minutes
Education: K-12 Education Finance Division Minutes
Financial Institutions and Insurance Minutes

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1995

Body: House

District: 20A

Elected: 11/8/1994

Residence: Dassel

Term of Office: 1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/3/1995

Counties Represented: McLeod, Meeker, Stearns, Wright

Occupation: Educator/Consultant/Construction Manager

Party: Independent Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Business Regulation Division
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Real Estate and Commerce
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Tourism
Education
Education: K-12 Education Finance Division

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1993

Body: House

District: 20A

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Dassel

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: McLeod, Meeker, Stearns, Wright

Occupation: Educator; Retired School Superintendent, 21 Years; Former Principal, 10 Years; Former Industrial Arts and Health Teacher, 3 Years/Consultant/Construction Manager

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Rural Development
Education
Education: K-12 Education Finance Division
Education: K-12 Education Finance Division: Facilities
Education: K-12 Education Finance Division: Secondary Vocational
Labor-Management Relations

Session Notes: His margin of victory over Nancy Larson was only 86 votes so an automatic recount was triggered. After the recount he was declared the winner by 40 votes.

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Hammond, Ruth. "Ness Seeks Less Government, More Efficiency." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 15, 1993, p. 14.

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 (20A)

2001 (20A)

2002 (20A)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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