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

    Thao, Cy

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2003-2010 (District 65A)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 3/2/1972
    Birth Place: ,
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: Laos
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: Hmong
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul
    Occupation (when first elected): Artist/Former Teacher

    EDUCATION

    Minneapolis North High School; Secondary;
    University of St. Thomas; Attended College; Teaching Certificate
    University of Minnesota, Morris; B.A.; Political Science and Studio Art

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Legislative Staff: Minnesota Senate (College Intern); 1993 to 199?

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Lee Vang
    Children: Two children: Cyanne and another daughter (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was the first Hmong to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives. (Session Weekly, May 7, 2010) Mee Moua was the first Hmong to serve in the Minnesota Legislature.

    He was born in Laos in 1972. He spent five years in a Thailand refugee camp from age 2-8. He was one of nine children. He came to Minnesota in March 1980.

    He ran unsuccessfully as the Independence party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 2000 elections. He lost to Andy Dawkins.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2919

    SESSIONS SERVED

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/2009
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
    Oath Date: 1/6/2009
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Artist/Assisted Living Facilities Family Business
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Labor Minutes
    • Environment Policy and Oversight: Game, Fish and Forestry Division Minutes
    • Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
    • Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Minutes
    • Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight: Licensing Division (Chair) Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2007
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
    Oath Date: 1/3/2007
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Artist/Former Teacher
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
    • Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
    • Health and Human Services Minutes
    • Health and Human Services: Licensing (Chair) Minutes
    • Taxes Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/2005
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006
    Oath Date: 1/4/2005
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Artist
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/2003
    Body: House
    District: 65A
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
    Oath Date: 1/7/2003
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Artist/Former Teacher
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
    • Health and Human Services Policy Minutes
    • Judiciary Policy and Finance Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    Session Interviews

    Articles & Books By

    • Thao, Cy. The Hmong Migration: Paintings: 50 Paintings and Text by Cy Thao. Minneapolis: Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2000. - (In Minnesota Legislative Reference Library collection at ND237 .T49 A5 2000z.)

    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.

    District News Files

    2003 (65A)
    2004 (65A)
    2005 (65A)
    2006 (65A)
    2007 (65A)
    2008 (65A)
    2009 (65A)
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    Video

    Legislators Past & Present Home