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Nichols, James W. "Jim"

Senate 1977-81 (District 20)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Yellow Medicine

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/19/1946
Birth Place:
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Jim
City of Residence (when first elected): Lake Benton
Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

EDUCATION

University of Minnesota, Morris; B.A.;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Agency: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (Commissioner); 1982 to 1990

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Linda (no longer listed in 1981); Joyce Elaine (married May 29, 1981)
Children: Three children
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: agriculture, education.

He ran as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party endorsed candidate for the United States House of Representatives in the 2nd Congressional District in 1982. He lost to Vin Weber.

Total Days Served: 1559

SESSIONS SERVED

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 20
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Lake Benton
Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 4/10/1981 (unfinished term)
Counties Represented: Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Yellow Medicine
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources (Chair)
  • Employment
  • Employment: Labor (Chair)
  • Public Employees and Pensions
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Agricultural Property Tax (Chair)
Reason for unfinished term: Resigned
Session Notes: He resigned on April 10, 1981 citing the needs of his family and farm.

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 20
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Lake Benton
Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
Counties Represented: Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Yellow Medicine
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources (Chair)
  • Employment
  • Employment: Labor
  • Governmental Operations
  • Governmental Operations: Civil Administration Regulatory Reform-1980
  • Governmental Operations: Regulatory Reform-1979
  • Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources/Governmental Operations/Local Government/Taxes and Tax Laws/Transportation: Agricultural Land Preservation
  • Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources/Health, Welfare and Corrections: Nutrition
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales and Property Tax

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 20
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Lake Benton
Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
Counties Represented: Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Yellow Medicine
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources (Chair)
  • Education
  • Education: Joint House/Senate Subcommittee on Libraries
  • Education: Post-Secondary and Higher Education
  • Education: Special Programs
  • Employment
  • Employment: Labor
  • Governmental Operations
  • Governmental Operations: Structure
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Senator Nancy Brataas and Senator Jim Nichols confer on the Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/1/1978. Senator Nancy Brataas and Senator Jim Nichols confer on the Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo credit:


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.