Novak, Edward G.
Senate 1959-62 (District 38); Senate 1963-66 (District 47); Senate 1967-72 (District 45); Senate 1973-74 (District 64)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
Ramsey
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
4/16/1917
Birth Place:
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Birth County:
Ramsey
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
11/4/2002
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Saint Paul
Occupation (when first elected):
Attorney/Businessman
EDUCATION
Cretin High School; Secondary; Graduate
University of Minnesota; Attended College;
College of St. Thomas; Attended College;
St. Paul College of Law; B.S.L.;
St. Paul College of Law; LL.B.; 1942
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Agency:
Several Government Agenices (Enforcement Officer and Attorney);
19?? to 19??
U.S. Executive Branch:
War Assets Administration (Enforcement Division);
194? to 19??
U.S. Executive Branch:
United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (Special Agent in Texas, Illinois, and New York; 5 years);
194? to 194?
State Agency:
Minnesota Department of Public Safety (Commissioner, Appointed by Governor Wendell Anderson);
06/10/1974 to 1979
[Appointed]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Evelyn
Children:
Three children: Maridee (daughter), Bill and Rick (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Boleslaw G. Novak
- Father
GENERAL NOTES
"He was a staunch Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party liberal." (Pina, Phillip. "Edward Novak, 85, Former Lawmaker and State Official." Saint Paul Pioneer Press, November 7, 2002, p. B9.)
He was a special agent for the FBI.
He died from cancer at home in St. Paul, Minnesota. His funeral was held on November 7, 2002 at the Church of the Maternity of Mary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Religion provided by his obituary.
Body: Senate
District: 64
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 6/10/1974
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
-
Finance (Chair)
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Judiciary
-
Labor and Commerce
-
Labor and Commerce: Regulated Industries
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent Rules (Chair)
Reason for unfinished term:
Appointed to other office
Session Notes:
He was appointed Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
Body: Senate
District: 45
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "He was a staunch Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party liberal." (Pina, Phillip. "Edward Novak, 85, Former Lawmaker and State Official." Saint Paul Pioneer Press, November 7, 2002, p. B9.)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration
-
Commerce and Insurance
-
Finance
-
Judiciary
-
Public Highways
-
Regulated Industries
Body: Senate
District: 45
Elected: 11/8/1966
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/4/1971
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "He was a staunch Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party liberal." (Pina, Phillip. "Edward Novak, 85, Former Lawmaker and State Official." Saint Paul Pioneer Press, November 7, 2002, p. B9.)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
-
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs: Metropolitan Problems Division
-
Commerce
-
Finance
-
Judiciary
-
Public Highways
-
Temperance and Liquor Control
Body: Senate
District: 45
Elected: 11/8/1966
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/4/1971
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Attorney at Law
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "He was a staunch Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party liberal." (Pina, Phillip. "Edward Novak, 85, Former Lawmaker and State Official." Saint Paul Pioneer Press, November 7, 2002, p. B9.)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
-
Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs: Metropolitan Problems Division
-
Commerce
-
Finance
-
Judiciary
-
Public Highways
-
Temperance and Liquor Control
Body: Senate
District: 47
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Attorney at Law
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "He was a staunch Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party liberal." (Pina, Phillip. "Edward Novak, 85, Former Lawmaker and State Official." Saint Paul Pioneer Press, November 7, 2002, p. B9.)
Committees:
-
Cities of the First Class
-
Civil Administration
-
Judiciary
-
Liquor Control
-
Public Highways
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
Body: Senate
District: 47
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/2/1967
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "He was a staunch Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party liberal." (Pina, Phillip. "Edward Novak, 85, Former Lawmaker and State Official." Saint Paul Pioneer Press, November 7, 2002, p. B9.)
Committees:
-
Cities of the First Class
-
Civil Administration
-
Judiciary
-
Liquor Control
-
Public Highways
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
Body: Senate
District: 38
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Attorney/Businessman
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "He was a staunch Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party liberal." (Pina, Phillip. "Edward Novak, 85, Former Lawmaker and State Official." Saint Paul Pioneer Press, November 7, 2002, p. B9.)
Committees:
-
Cities of the First Class
-
Civil Administration
-
Judiciary
-
Liquor Control
Body: Senate
District: 38
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/7/1963
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Attorney/Businessman
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: "He was a staunch Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party liberal." (Pina, Phillip. "Edward Novak, 85, Former Lawmaker and State Official." Saint Paul Pioneer Press, November 7, 2002, p. B9.)
Committees:
-
Cities of the First Class
-
Civil Administration
-
Judiciary
-
Liquor Control
Articles & Books About
Pina, Phillip. "Edward Novak, 85, Former Lawmaker and State Official." Saint Paul Pioneer Press, November 7, 2002, p. B9.
Nelson, Bruce. "Novak Cast in 'New Role' as State Public Safety Chief." St. Paul Dispatch, August 7, 1974, p. 4.
"Novak Ends Career in Legislature." St. Paul Dispatch, March 29, 1974.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.