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Swanson, James C.

House 1969-72 (District 28B); House 1973-82 (District 37B); House 1983-84 (District 40A)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served:  Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 4/5/1934
Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth County: Hennepin
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 8/2/2024
Gender: Male
Religion: Covenant
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Richfield
Occupation (when first elected): Vocational Instructor, Dunwoody Institute

EDUCATION

Minnehaha Academy High School; Secondary; Graduate
Dunwoody Industrial Institute, Minneapolis; Vocational-Technical School; Sheet Metal Course, Graduate
University of Minnesota; B.S.; Industrial Arts Education
University of Minnesota; Attended Graduate School; Education Administration, Masters Program

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Advisory Council for Vocational Education; 19?? to 19?? [Appointed]
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Educational Council; 19?? to 19?? [Appointed]
School Board/Administration: Richfield, Minnesota (School Board, Director, 1965-68; Treasurer, 1967-68); 1965 to 1968 [Elected]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Elizabeth (married on August 11, 1956)
Children: Two children: Victoria (Vicki) and Derrick
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

He was a founder of Metropolitan State University.

He is interred at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He was a member of Bethlehem Covenant Church.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1979-80 and the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

Total Days Served: 5845

SESSIONS SERVED

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 40A
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Adult Coordinator, Hennepin Technical Centers
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: Education Division
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
  • Health and Welfare (Chair)

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Adult Director; Administrator, Hennepin Technical Center, Katherine Curren Center
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: Education Division
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance
  • Health and Welfare (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Administration

71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/7/1978
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Adult Director, Hennepin Technical Center, South Campus, Night School/Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: Education Division
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance
  • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs (Chair) [He was the Chair in 1979 only.]
  • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: General Law and Veterans Affairs
  • Health and Welfare (Chair) [He was the Chair in 1980 only.]
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
Session Notes: His margin of victory over George Evans was only 160 votes. George Evans filed a lawsuit alleging there were errors in the counting of ballots. It's unclear what happened to the lawsuit but James C. Swanson served the entire term.

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Evening School Coordinator; Adult Director, Hennepin Technical Center, South Campus/Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: Education Division
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Health and Welfare (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Administration

69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/5/1974
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Evening School Coordinator/Adult Director; Hennepin Technical Center, South Campus
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: Education Division
  • Deinstitutionalization
  • Health and Welfare (Chair)
  • Higher Education
  • Rules and Legislative Administration

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Vocational Instructor, Hennepin Technical Centers
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: Education Division
  • Health and Welfare (Chair)
  • Higher Education
  • Rules and Legislative Administration

67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 28B
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Vocational Instructor, Occupational Skill Training Center, Minneapolis
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • City Government
  • Financial Institutions
  • Health, Welfare and Corrections
  • Higher Education

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 28B
Elected: 11/5/1968
Residence: Richfield
Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Vocational Instructor, Dunwoody Institute
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
  • Cities of the Second and Third Class
  • Claims
  • Commerce and Economic Development
  • Health and Welfare
  • Higher Education
No other information has been entered for this legislator. 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.