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    Rodriguez, Sr., Frank J.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1979-82 (District 67A); House 1983-84 (District 65B)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Dakota, Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 3/??/1920
    Birth Place: Sheridan, Wyoming
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 2/9/2007
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: Hispanic, Latino or Spanish Origin
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul
    Occupation (when first elected): Business and Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Construction and General Laborers' Union Local #132

    EDUCATION

    Humboldt High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1940

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Government: St. Paul, Minnesota (City Public Housing Agency); 19?? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Ramona F. Reyes (married around 1946)
    Children: Seven children: AnnaMarie and Shirley (daughters); Frank Jr., John, James, Michael, and David (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was the first known Hispanic to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Conrad Vega was the first known Hispanic to serve in the Minnesota Legislature. He was the son of a Mexican immigrant. (Union Advocate, 7/2/1979)

    He moved to St. Paul, Minnesota's West Side around 1922, with his parents.

    He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1984 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary election. Sandy Pappas' margin of victory over Frank J. Rodriguez, Sr. in the primary election was so small that a recount occurred. She was determined to be the winner.

    His funeral was held on February 16, 2007 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was buried in Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.

    He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2023

    SESSIONS SERVED

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 65B
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Union Financial Secretary, Treasurer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Pensions and Investments
    • Labor-Management Relations
    • Labor-Management Relations: General Labor Legislation (Chair)
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Highway and Motor Vehicle

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 67A
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Ramsey
    Occupation: Union Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Construction and General Laborers' Local #132
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Personnel
    • Health and Welfare
    • Health and Welfare: Departmental Affairs
    • Labor-Management Relations
    • Labor-Management Relations: Migrant Health Task Force
    • Labor-Management Relations: Negotiations and General Labor Legislation
    term photo
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    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 67A
    Elected: 6/19/1979
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 6/26/1979 to 1/5/1981 (Special Election)
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Ramsey
    Occupation: Business and Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Construction and General Laborers' Union Local #132
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations
    • Health and Welfare
    • Labor-Management Relations
    Session Notes: Frank J. Rodriguez, Sr. won the special election after the seat was declared vacant. He replaced Robert L. Pavlak who was subject to a contested election.

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "Rodriguez, Frank J., Sr. (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 14, 2007.

    Behr, Kevin. "Frank Rodriguez, 86, Active in Labor, Politics." Star Tribune, February 13, 2007, p. B6.


    Archive Collections
    Frank J. Rodriguez Papers, 1977-1984 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections
    Mexican-American Oral History Project: Interview with Frank Rodriguez - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections

    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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