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Swails, Marsha

House 2007-2010 (District 56B)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Washington

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 4/3/1952
Birth Place: Richmond, California
Birth County:
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Female
Religion: Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Woodbury
Occupation (when first elected): Advanced Placement English Teacher, Woodbury High School

EDUCATION

Independence High School, Missouri; Secondary;
Graceland University, Iowa; B.A.; English and Secondary Education
Hamline University; M.F.A.; Fine Arts-Writing

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Thomas "Tom" (married around 1974, divorced in 2010)
Children: Two children: Ann (daughter), Ben (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

She grew up in Independence, Missouri.

She was a classically trained soprano.

Religion provided by the 2006 WCCO TV Voters' Guide.

Total Days Served: 1462

SESSIONS SERVED

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 56B
Elected: 11/4/2008
Residence: Woodbury
Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented: Washington
Occupation: Advanced Placement English Teacher, Woodbury High School
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Finance: K-12 Education Finance Division Minutes
  • Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division Minutes
  • Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division: Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division Minutes
  • K-12 Education Policy and Oversight Minutes
  • Ways and Means Minutes
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 56B
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Woodbury
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
Counties Represented: Washington
Occupation: Advanced Placement English Teacher, Woodbury High School
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Commerce and Labor: Labor and Consumer Protection Division Minutes
  • E-12 Education Minutes
  • Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: K-12 Finance Division Minutes
  • Finance: Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division Minutes
  • Finance: Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division: Environmental Justice and Healthy Housing Minutes
  • Ways and Means Minutes
Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2008 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2007 House Interview


Articles & Books About
Ostberg, Patty. "An Educator with Passion: Swails Continues Her Public Service." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 23, 2007, p. 17.


District Files

District File - 2007 District 56B
District File - 2008 District 56B
District File - 2009 District 56B

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