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Saxhaug, Tom

Senate 2003-2012 (District 3); Senate 2013-2016 (District 5)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 2/22/1948
Birth Place: Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Birth County: Itasca
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion: Presbyterian
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Grand Rapids
Occupation (when first elected): Insurance Agent

EDUCATION

Grand Rapids High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1966
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota; B.A.; History, 1970

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal Council/Aldermen: Grand Rapids, Minnesota (City Council); [Dates Unknown]
Municipal Council/Aldermen: Grand Rapids, Minnesota (City Council); 1994 to 1996 [Elected]
County Board/Commissioner: Itasca County, Minnesota (Board of Commissioners); 1996 to 2002 [Elected]
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Iron Range Resources Board (Member); 2003 to 20??
State Board/Commission/Council: Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (Public Member; Appointed by Governor Tim Walz); 2019 to ? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Nancy
Children: Two children: Tim (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: economic development, jobs, transportation, education, natural resources.

He was an Offensive Guard on the St. Olaf College football team.

Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

Total Days Served: 5110

SESSIONS SERVED

89th Legislative Session (2015-2016) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 05
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Grand Rapids
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented: Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca
Occupation: Legislator, Retired Insurance Agent
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Education
  • Finance
  • Finance: E-12 Policy and Budget Division
  • Finance: Natural Resources, Economic Development and Agriculture Budget Division
  • Finance: State Departments and Veterans Budget Division (Chair)
  • Finance: Subcommittee on Equity
  • Finance: Subcommittee on Legacy
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 05
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Grand Rapids
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented: Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca
Occupation: Legislator, Retired Insurance Agent
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2013 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Finance
  • Finance: E-12 Division
  • Finance: Environment, Economic Development, and Agriculture Division
  • Finance: State Departments and Veterans Division (Chair)
  • Finance: Subcommittee on Legacy

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/2/2010
Residence: Grand Rapids
Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods
Occupation: Legislator/Insurance Agent
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Economies
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Higher Education

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Grand Rapids
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods
Occupation: Legislator/Retired Insurance Agent
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Education
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Forestry (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters
  • Finance: E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
  • Finance: E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division: Arts Education
  • Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division
  • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division
  • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Natural Resources (Chair)
  • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Parks and Trails Legacy
Leadership Position: Majority Whip

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Grand Rapids
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods
Occupation: Legislator/Insurance Agent
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Forestry (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters
  • Finance: E-12 Education Budget Division
  • Finance: Economic Development Budget Division
  • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division
  • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Natural Resources (Chair)
Leadership Position: Majority Whip

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Grand Rapids
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods
Occupation: Insurance Agent
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Education
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Game and Fish (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters (Chair)
  • Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Economic Development and Tourism
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Energy

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 03
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Grand Rapids
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods
Occupation: Insurance Agent
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Game and Fish (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters (Chair)
  • Finance: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division-2003/K-12 Education Budget Division-2004
  • Finance: State Government Budget Division
  • Jobs, Housing and Community Development-2003/Jobs, Energy and Community Development-2004
Session Notes: He was a member of the K-12 Education Budget Division in 2004 only. He was a member of the State Government Budget Division in 2003 only.

District Files

District File - 2003 District 03
District File - 2004 District 03
District File - 2005 District 03
District File - 2006 District 03
District File - 2007 District 03
District File - 2008 District 03
District File - 2009 District 03

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