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Peterson, Sandra

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2005-2012 (District 45A)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 1/11/1936

Birth Place: Benson, Minnesota

Birth County: Swift

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death: 10/24/2015

Gender: Female

Religion:

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): New Hope

Occupation (when first elected): Former Teacher, Robbinsdale School District

EDUCATION

Benson High School; Secondary;
Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota; B.S.; Education
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; E.B.D.; Graduate License
University of Minnesota; L.D.; Graduate License

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor's/Legislative Task Forces and Committees (Served on Many, Appointed by Several Governors); [Dates Unknown] [Appointed]

State Board/Commission/Council: Governor's Workforce Development Council; 07/13/1999 to 01/01/2013 [Appointed]

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board; 05/27/2003 to 01/01/2006 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Widow (her husband, Richard Peterson, died in 1990); partner Alfred (Bud) Teien
Children: Four children: Stephen and Eric Peterson; Mark and Paul Teien
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

She served as President of the Minnesota Federation of Teachers union. She was Co-President and Vice-President of Education Minnesota teachers' union.

"'Sandra was the kind of leader we all hope to be -- kind, approachable, smart and firm when necessary,' said Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota. 'She was a courageous, visionary leader. She will be missed by those who knew her and remembered for her accomplishments as an educator and a union leader.'" (Star Tribune, October 25, 2015.)

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Total Days Served: 2926

SESSIONS SERVED

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: New Hope

Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Teacher

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Civil Law Minutes
Education Reform Minutes
Health and Human Services Reform Minutes

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: New Hope

Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Teacher

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Finance: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division Minutes
Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
K-12 Education Policy and Oversight Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: New Hope

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Former Teacher, Robbinsdale School District

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

E-12 Education Minutes
Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: Early Childhood Learning Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division Minutes

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: New Hope

Term of Office: 1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Former Teacher, Robbinsdale School District

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 Policy and Reform Minutes
Transportation Minutes

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Specht, Denise. "Sandra Peterson Leaves Us with Enduring Lessons." Minnesota Educator, December, 2015. - Also includes section: "Colleagues, Friends, Family Reflect on Peterson's Impact."
"Peterson, Sandra E. (Espeseth) (Obituary)." Star Tribune, October 25, 2015.
Reinan, John. "Union Chief was 'Kind of Leader We All Hope to Be.'" Star Tribune, October 25, 2015.
Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. "Sandra Peterson Dies, Served as Legislator and Union Head." Pioneer Press, October 25, 2015.
Dunn, Ruth. "Education Expert: Outsider Comes Inside to Bring About Change." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 11, 2005, p. 17.

Session Interviews

House Interview 2010 (Video)
House Interview 2005 (Video)

District Files

2005 (45A)

2006 (45A)

2007 (45A)

2008 (45A)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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.

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