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    Beard, Michael "Mike"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2003-2012 (District 35A); House 2013-2014 (District 55A)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Scott

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 7/22/1953
    Birth Place: , Pennsylvania
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Evangelical Christian
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Mike
    City of Residence (when first elected): Shakopee
    Occupation (when first elected): Business, Beard Communications; Publisher of Various Christian Publications Including the Minnesota Christian Chronicle Newspaper

    EDUCATION

    High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1971
    University of St. Thomas; Attended College; Entrepreneurial Classes
    Bethany College of Missions; B.A.; Bible Missions, 1975

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Shakopee, Minnesota (City Council); 1992 to 1995
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Regional Transit Board; 1993 to 1995 [Appointed]
    County Board/Commissioner: Scott County, Minnesota (County Commissioner); 2015 to ? [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Karen
    Children: Four children: Amy and Lisa (daughters), (2 sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was raised in Clearfield, Pennsylvania.

    He was an amateur airplane pilot.

    Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 4382

    SESSIONS SERVED

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 55A
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Shakopee
    Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
    Counties Represented: Scott
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 35A
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Shakopee
    Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
    Counties Represented: Scott
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance: Energy Minutes [The Energy Subcommittee was created in 2012.]
    • Government Operations and Elections Minutes
    • Transportation Policy and Finance (Chair) Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 35A
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Shakopee
    Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
    Counties Represented: Scott
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Labor: Telecommunications Regulation and Infrastructure Division Minutes
    • Finance: Energy Finance and Policy Division Minutes
    • Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division: Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division Minutes
    • Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division Minutes
    • State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections: Local Government Division Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Whip
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 35A
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Shakopee
    Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
    Counties Represented: Scott
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Biosciences and Emerging Technology Minutes
    • Commerce and Labor: Telecommunications Regulation and Infrastructure Division Minutes
    • Finance: Energy Finance and Policy Division Minutes
    • Finance: Transportation Finance Division Minutes
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Whip
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 35A
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Shakopee
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
    Counties Represented: Scott
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Minutes
    • Regulated Industries Minutes
    • Transportation Minutes - Ex Officio Member
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 35A
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Shakopee
    Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
    Counties Represented: Scott
    Occupation: Business, Beard Communications; Publisher of Various Christian Publications Including the Minnesota Christian Chronicle Newspaper
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Session Interviews
    Session Interview (Video) 2010 House Interview

    Session Interview (Video) 2006 House Interview

    Session Interview (Video) 2003 House Interview


    Video
    Departing Member Interview (Video) 2014


    Articles & Books About
    Jones, Jeff. "Guided By His Past: Backgrounds in Business, Religion, Transportation Have Led Beard to the House of Representatives." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 7, 2003, p. 21.



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

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