Tomassoni, David J. "Dave"
House 1993-2000 (District 5B); Senate 2000-2012 (District 5); Senate 2013-2022 (District 6)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Itasca, St. Louis
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
12/5/1952
Birth Place:
,
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
8/11/2022
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Dave
City of Residence (when first elected):
Chisholm
Occupation (when first elected):
Insurance
EDUCATION
Chisholm High School; Secondary;
University of Denver; B.S.B.A.; Business Administration
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Charlotte
Children:
Three children: Danny and Dante (sons); Chauntell (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: mining, logging, education, taxes, environment, economic development, seniors, veterans.
He played professional hockey in Italy for 16 years and played on the Italian Olympic hockey team in 1984.
He was president of the Chisholm Italian-American Club.
He announced he was living with ALS or Lou Gehrig's on July 17, 2021 in the Mesabi Tribune.
He announced he would not seek reelection in 2022.
Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.
His funeral was held on August 19, 2022, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Chisholm. He was buried at Chisholm Cemetery.
Body: Senate
District: 06
Elected: 11/3/2020
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 8/11/2022
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Itasca, St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Independent-No Party Affiliation
Party Notes: Sen. David Tomassoni and Sen. Tom Bakk formed a separate and independent caucus. Their party endorsement in the election was DFL.
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
-
Higher Education Finance and Policy (Chair)
-
Mining and Forestry Policy
Leadership Position:
President Pro Tempore
Reason for unfinished term:
Death
Body: Senate
District: 06
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
Counties Represented:
Itasca, St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy
-
Capital Investment
-
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
Leadership Position:
President of the Senate
Leadership Notes: On November 12, 2020, during the 6th Special Session, he was elected President of the Senate for the remainder of the Ninety-First Legislature.
Body: Senate
District: 06
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
Counties Represented:
Itasca, St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy
-
E-12 Finance
-
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
Body: Senate
District: 06
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented:
Itasca, St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Finance
-
Finance: Environment, Economic Development and Agriculture Budget Division - 2015 / Natural Resources, Economic Development and Agriculture Budget Division - 2016 (Chair)
-
Finance: Subcommittee on Legacy
-
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Budget Division
-
Transportation and Public Safety
Body: Senate
District: 06
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented:
Itasca, St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Finance
-
Finance: Environment, Economic Development, and Agriculture Division (Chair)
-
Finance: Subcommittee on Legacy
-
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Division
-
Transportation and Public Safety
Body: Senate
District: 05
Elected: 11/2/2010
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Higher Education
-
Jobs and Economic Growth
Body: Senate
District: 05
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Business, Industry and Jobs
-
Business, Industry and Jobs: Bioscience and Renewable Energy Development
-
Capital Investment
-
Finance
-
Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division (Chair)
-
Finance: Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
-
Health, Housing and Family Security: Joint Health, Housing and Family Security with Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division: Housing (also subcommittee to Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division)
-
Higher Education
Body: Senate
District: 05
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Business, Industry and Jobs
-
Capital Investment
-
Finance
[He was a member in 2008 only.]
-
Finance: Economic Development Budget Division (Chair)
-
Finance: Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
-
Higher Education
Body: Senate
District: 05
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Education
-
Finance: Higher Education Budget Division
-
State and Local Government Operations
-
Taxes
Leadership Position:
Majority Whip
Body: Senate
District: 05
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Education
-
Finance: Higher Education Budget Division
-
State and Local Government Operations
-
Taxes
Leadership Position:
Majority Whip
Body: Senate
District: 05
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Insurance Agent/Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Education
-
Education: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
-
Taxes
-
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax Budget Division
-
Telecommunications, Energy and Utilities
Leadership Position:
Majority Whip
Body: House
District: 05B
Elected: 11/3/1998
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Insurance
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Leadership Position:
Assistant Minority Leader
Body: House
District: 05B
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Insurance
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs
Minutes
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Consumer Affairs
Minutes
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Tourism
Minutes
-
Education
Minutes
-
Education: Education Planning and Transitions (Chair)
Minutes
-
Education: K-12 Education Finance Division
Minutes
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Minutes
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Body: House
District: 05B
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Insurance
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Consumer Affairs
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Real Estate and Commerce
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Tourism
-
Education
-
Education: K-12 Education Finance Division
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Gambling Division
Body: House
District: 05B
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Chisholm
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Insurance
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Education
-
Education: Education Standards
-
Education: K-12 Education Finance Division
-
Education: K-12 Education Finance Division: Facilities
-
Governmental Operations and Gambling
-
Governmental Operations and Gambling: Gambling
-
Housing
Articles & Books About
"Veteran Lawmaker Fought for Iron Range, Against ALS." Pioneer Press, August 14, 2022, p. 3A.
"The guy cared about people no matter where they were in life." Mesabi Tribune, August 12, 2022.
Price, Dave. "Rookie Lawmaker Tomassoni Inks Two-Year Deal." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 19, 1993, p. 19.
District Files
District File - 2000 District 05B
District File - 2002 District 05
District File - 2001 District 05
District File - 2003 District 05
District File - 2004 District 05
District File - 2005 District 05
District File - 2006 District 05
District File - 2007 District 05
District File - 2008 District 05
District File - 2009 District 05
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.