Franson, Mary
House 2011-2012 (District 11B); House 2013-2022 (District 8B); House 2023-Present (District 12B)
Party when first elected: Republican
Counties Served:
Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Stearns, Todd
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
3/1/1977
Birth Place:
Saginaw, Minnesota
Birth County:
St. Louis
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Female
Religion:
Evangelical Covenant
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Former Name: Bensoni
City of Residence (when first elected):
Alexandria
Occupation (when first elected):
Licensed Childcare Provider/Former Employee, A.T. and T. Telephone Company
EDUCATION
AlBrook High School; Secondary; Graduate
University of Minnesota, Duluth; B.A.; Psychology Major, Humanities Minor
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Single
Children:
Three children: Helena, Karl, and Kahllin
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Her religion is provided by her campaign website. She is a member of the Alexandria Covenant Church, which is part of a fellowship of believers known as the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Body:
House
District:
12B
Elected:
11/5/2024
Residence:
Alexandria
Term of Office:
1/6/2025 to 1/3/2027
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Pope, Stearns
Occupation:
Homemaker, former licensed child care provider, self-employed
Party:
Republican
Committees:
Body:
House
District:
12B
Elected:
11/8/2022
Residence:
Alexandria
Term of Office:
1/2/2023 to 1/5/2025
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Pope, Stearns
Occupation:
Homemaker, former licensed childcare provider, self-employed
Party:
Republican
Body:
House
District:
08B
Elected:
11/3/2020
Residence:
Alexandria
Term of Office:
1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Otter Tail
Occupation:
Homemaker, former licensed childcare provider, self-employed
Party:
Republican
Special Session Bills Authored: 2021 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Climate and Energy Finance and Policy
Minutes
-
Early Childhood Finance and Policy
Minutes
-
Health Finance and Policy: Preventative Health Policy Division
Minutes
Body:
House
District:
08B
Elected:
11/6/2018
Residence:
Alexandria
Term of Office:
1/7/2019 to 1/3/2021
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Otter Tail
Occupation:
Homemaker, Former Licensed Childcare Provider, Self-Employed
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Ways & Means: Education Finance Division/Health and Human Services Finance Division: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division
Minutes
-
Ways & Means: Health and Human Services Finance Division
Minutes
-
Ways & Means: Higher Education Finance & Policy Division
Minutes
Body:
House
District:
08B
Elected:
11/8/2016
Residence:
Alexandria
Term of Office:
1/2/2017 to 1/6/2019
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Otter Tail
Occupation:
Homemaker, Former Licensed Childcare Provider, Self-Employed
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Commerce & Regulatory Reform
Minutes
-
Health & Human Services Finance
Minutes
-
Health & Human Services Reform
Minutes
-
Health & Human Services Reform: Subcommittee on Childcare Access & Affordability (Chair)
Minutes
Body:
House
District:
08B
Elected:
11/4/2014
Residence:
Alexandria
Term of Office:
1/5/2015 to 1/1/2017
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Otter Tail
Occupation:
Homemaker/Self-Employed, Former Licensed Childcare Provider
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Aging & Long-Term Care Policy
Minutes
-
Agriculture Policy
Minutes
-
Health and Human Services Finance
Minutes
-
Health and Human Services Reform
Minutes
Body:
House
District:
08B
Elected:
11/6/2012
Residence:
Alexandria
Term of Office:
1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Otter Tail
Occupation:
Homemaker/Self-employed
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Early Childhood and Youth Development Policy
Minutes
-
Health and Human Services Policy
Minutes
-
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Minutes
Session Notes:
Her margin of victory over Bob Cunniff was only one vote so an automatic recount occurred. Her lead increased by 11 votes after 35 ballots were randomly discarded as a result of a judge's order due to errors in three precincts. After the recount she was declared the winner by 12 votes.
Body:
House
District:
11B
Elected:
11/2/2010
Residence:
Alexandria
Term of Office:
1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Counties Represented:
Douglas, Todd
Occupation:
Licensed Childcare Provider/Former Employee, A.T. and T. Telephone Company
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance
Minutes
-
Health and Human Services Finance
Minutes
-
Health and Human Services Reform
Minutes
Articles & Books About
Session Interviews
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.
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