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    Wergin, Betsy L.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 2003-08 (District 16)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Benton, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 3/4/1952
    Birth Place: Princeton, Minnesota
    Birth County: Mille Lacs
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Female
    Religion: Christian Reformed
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Princeton
    Occupation (when first elected): Retired Business Owner, Betsy's Knit-N-Stitch, Machine-Knitting Business

    EDUCATION

    Princeton High School; Secondary; Graduate
    St. Cloud State University; Attended College; Accounting Classes

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Board/Commission: Baldwin, Minnesota (Township Officer/Clerk); 1989 to 1995
    County Board/Commissioner: Sherburne County, Minnesota (County Commissioner); 1995 to 2002
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Public Utilities Commission; 07/28/2008 to 2??? [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Richard
    Children: Two children: Melissa (daughter), Joshua "Josh" (son)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    J. LeRoy Koppendrayer  - Brother

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: education policy and finance, transportation, pro-life initiatives, health care.

    She was raised on a farm.

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

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2031

    SESSIONS SERVED

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2007
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Princeton
    Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 7/28/2008 (unfinished term)
    Oath Date: 1/3/2007
    Counties Represented: Benton, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne
    Occupation: Retired Business Owner, Betsy's Knit-N-Stitch, Machine-Knitting Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Veterans
    • Capital Investment
    • Finance: Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division
    • Finance: E-12 Education Budget Division
    • Health, Housing and Family Security
    Leadership Position: Deputy Minority Leader - She resigned from the Minnesota Legislature on July 28, 2008.
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: She was appointed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/2005
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Princeton
    Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
    Oath Date: 1/7/2003
    Counties Represented: Benton, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne
    Occupation: Retired Business Owner, Betsy's Knit-N-Stitch, Machine-Knitting Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming
    • Finance: Early Childhood Policy and Budget Division
    • Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
    • Health and Family Security
    • State and Local Government Operations
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/2003
    Body: Senate
    District: 16
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Princeton
    Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
    Oath Date: 1/7/2003
    Counties Represented: Benton, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne
    Occupation: Retired Business Owner, Betsy's Knit-N-Stitch, Machine-Knitting Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs-2003/Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming-2004
    • Finance: Early Childhood Policy and Budget Division-2004
    • Finance: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division-2003/K-12 Education Budget Division-2004
    • State and Local Government Operations
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    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 (16)
    2004 (16)
    2005 (16)
    2006 (16)
    2007 (16)
    2008 (16)
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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