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Newton, Jerry

House 2009-2010 (District 49B); House 2013-2016 (District 37A); Senate 2017-2022 (District 37); House 2023-Present (District 35B)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Anoka

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 9/15/1937
Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth County: Hennepin
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion: United Church of Christ
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Coon Rapids
Occupation (when first elected): School Board Director/Retired Grocery Store Owner

EDUCATION

Osseo High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1955
University of Maryland; B.A.; Government
Boston University; M.A.; International Relations
University of Minnesota; Doctoral Work;
University of Louvain, Belgium; Doctoral Work;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Northstar Corridor Development Authority (Member); [Dates Unknown]
Municipal Council/Aldermen: Anoka, Minnesota (Human Rights Council); [Dates Unknown]
Military: United States Army (Vietnam War; Middle East, 7 years, Turkish Military Adviser; Retired Command Sergeant Major, Bronze Star and Vietnamese Gallantry Cross Recipient); 1955 to 1978
Municipal Council/Aldermen: Coon Rapids, Minnesota (City Council, Member); 1994 to 2000 [Elected]
School Board/Administration: Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District 11, Minnesota (School Board, Member and Director, appointed to fill a vacancy and then reelected, twice); 2000 to 2008 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Rita Deschaumes
Children: Six children: Ariane, Sabrina, Rebecca, Eric, Sophia, and Kimball
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Charles Leonard Todd  - Great Uncle
Robert Carmichael  - Great Great Uncle

GENERAL NOTES

Of those legislators with known birth dates, he is one of the oldest legislators to serve in the Minnesota Legislature. Rep. Willard Munger was the oldest at 88 years 6 months when he died in office. Rep. Newton is the oldest known Senator to serve. He was 85 years and 3 months at the end of his senate term on January 2, 2023.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1998 and 2000 elections. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota Senate in the 2006 election.

He announced he would not seek reelection in 2024.

He was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Anoka, Minnesota.

Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota, The Directory, 2009-2010.

Total Days Served: 4847

SESSIONS SERVED

93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 35B
Elected: 11/8/2022
Residence: Coon Rapids
Term of Office: 1/3/2023 to 1/13/2025
Counties Represented: Anoka
Occupation: Retired business owner, sergeant major and college professor
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Minutes
  • State and Local Government Finance and Policy Minutes
  • Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy (Chair) Minutes

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 37
Elected: 11/3/2020
Residence: Coon Rapids
Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023
Counties Represented: Anoka
Occupation: Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major; retired business owner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2021 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2021 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy
  • Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy

91st Legislative Session (2019-2020) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 37
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Coon Rapids
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
Counties Represented: Anoka
Occupation: Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major, Retired Business Owner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Family Care and Aging
  • Higher Education Finance and Policy
  • Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 37
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Coon Rapids
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
Counties Represented: Anoka
Occupation: Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major, Retired Business Owner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Aging and Long-Term Care Policy
  • Higher Education Finance and Policy
  • Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy

89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37A
Elected: 11/4/2014
Residence: Coon Rapids
Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented: Anoka
Occupation: Educator/Teacher
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2015 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Aging & Long-Term Care Policy Minutes
  • Education Finance Minutes
  • State Government Finance: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37A
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Coon Rapids
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
Counties Represented: Anoka
Occupation: Educator/Teacher
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Education Finance Minutes
  • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
  • Jobs and Economic Development Finance and Policy Minutes
  • State Government Finance and Veterans Affairs Minutes

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 49B
Elected: 11/4/2008
Residence: Coon Rapids
Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented: Anoka
Occupation: School Board Director/Retired Grocery Store Owner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2010 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes
  • Finance: K-12 Education Finance Division Minutes
  • Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division Minutes
  • K-12 Education Policy and Oversight Minutes
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2013 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2010 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2009 House Interview


Articles & Books About
Hegarty, Susan. "No Shortcut to Service, Newton Relishes Opportunity to Make Tough Decisions." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 23, 2009, p. 15.


District Files

District File - 2009 District 49B
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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

Contact this legislator