Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links
  • LRL Home
    • >
  • Legislators Past & Present
    • >
  • Member Record
    • Legislators Past & Present Home

    Peterson, Collin Clark

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1977-86 (District 10)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Becker, Otter Tail, Wadena

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/29/1944
    Birth Place: Fargo, North Dakota
    Birth County: Cass
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Detroit Lakes
    Occupation (when first elected): Certified Public Accountant

    EDUCATION

    Moorhead State University; B.A.; Accounting and Business Administration, 1966

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Army National Guard; 1963 to 1969
    U.S. Representative: 7th Congressional District, Minnesota; 01/03/1991 to 01/03/2021 [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Single
    Children: Three children: Sean (son)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: workers compensation, agriculture, education, small business, taxes, alcohol and drug abuse, transportation.

    He was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States House of Representatives in 1981, 1986, and 1988. He lost to Arlan Stangeland in 1986 by only 121 votes. The recount was stopped when he conceded that it wouldn't change the outcome of the election.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 3654

    SESSIONS SERVED

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: Senate
    District: 10
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Detroit Lakes
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail
    Occupation: Certified Public Accountant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife (Chair)
    • Governmental Operations
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids (Chair)
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: Senate
    District: 10
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Detroit Lakes
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail
    Occupation: Certified Public Accountant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife (Chair)
    • Employment
    • Employment: Workers' Compensation (Chair)
    • Governmental Operations
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids (Chair)

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: Senate
    District: 10
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Detroit Lakes
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
    Oath Date: 1/6/1981
    Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail, Wadena
    Occupation: Certified Public Accountant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife (Chair)
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources
    • Public Employees and Pensions
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax (Chair)
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Small Business Tax
    • Veterans' Affairs
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: Senate
    District: 10
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Detroit Lakes
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail, Wadena
    Occupation: Certified Public Accountant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wild Life (Chair)
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Personnel
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
    Body: Senate
    District: 10
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Detroit Lakes
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Becker, Otter Tail, Wadena
    Occupation: Certified Public Accountant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife (Chair)
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Employee Benefits
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    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

    Senators Eric Petty, Collin Peterson, Gene Merriam, Doug Johnson, and Steve Novak in a tax conference committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1985. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
    Senator Eric Petty, Senator Collin Peterson, Senator Doug Johnson, and Senator Steve Novak in a tax conference committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1983-1986. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
    Senator Collin Peterson confers with a colleague prior to a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1981-1984. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
    Senator Gene Merriam and Senator Collin Peterson converse on the Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1981-1984. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
    Senator Collin Peterson, Senator Otto Bang, and Senator Howard Olson in a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1977-1980. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

    Legislators Past & Present Home