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    Paulsen, Erik

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1995-2008 (District 42B)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 5/14/1965
    Birth Place: Bakersfield, California
    Birth County: Kern
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Eden Prairie
    Occupation (when first elected): None Listed

    EDUCATION

    Chaska High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1983
    St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota; B.A.; Mathematics, 1987

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States House of Representatives (Staff Member for United States Representative Jim Ramstad in Washington D.C.; Then State Director for United States Representative Jim Ramstad in Minnesota); 19?? to 199?
    U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States Senate (Intern for United States Senator Rudy Boschwitz); 1989 to 19??
    U.S. Representative: 3rd Congressional District, Minnesota; 01/06/2009 to 2019

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Kelly
    Children: Four children: Cassie, Briana, Tayler, and Liesl (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He grew up in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

    He was a member of Victory Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1999-2000 and a newspaper article.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5117

    SESSIONS SERVED

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business Analyst, Target Corporation
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair) Minutes
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair) Minutes
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/7/2000
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2002 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/3/1998
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:

    80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/5/1996
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education Minutes
    • Education: Facilities Minutes
    • Education: Higher Education Finance Division Minutes
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs

    79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/8/1994
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Independent Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: Higher Education Finance Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Labor-Management Relations
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Session Interviews
    Session Interview (Video) 2006 House Interview

    Session Interview (Video) 2005 House Interview


    Articles & Books About
    Hogenson, Brian. "Seizing an Unexpected Opportunity." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, May 2, 2008, p. 20.

    Wetzel, Matt. "More or Less: Republicans, DFL Take Different Paths When Establishing Leadership Structure." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 7, 2005, p. 7.

    Bryant, Miranda. "Up to the Challenge: Paulsen Ready to Fill Some Big Shoes as Majority Leader by Making Strides of His Own." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 24, 2003, p. 14.

    Specktor, Mordecai. "Paulsen Applies Market Principles to Government." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 17, 1995, p. 14.

    Paulsen, Erik. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


    District Files

    District File - 2000 District 42B
    District File - 2002 District 42B
    District File - 2003 District 42B
    District File - 2004 District 42B
    District File - 2005 District 42B
    District File - 2006 District 42B
    District File - 2007 District 42B
    District File - 2008 District 42B
    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.

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