House 1995-2002 (District 19B); House 2003-2012 (District 19A); Senate 2013-2022 (District 29); Senate 2023-Present (District 29)
Party when first elected: Independent Republican
Counties Served:
Hennepin, Meeker, Sherburne, Wright
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
3/12/1950
Birth Place:
,
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Evangelical Free Christian
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Buffalo
Occupation (when first elected):
Federal Express/Air National Guard
EDUCATION
United States Navy; Postsecondary; Aviation Electronics
Willmar Technical College; A.A.; Agribusiness
Crown College; N.H.J.C.; Liberal Arts
Northwestern College; B.A.; Business Administration
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
United States Navy (Vietnam War);
[Dates Unknown]
Military:
United States Air National Guard/United States Air Force Reserves (Aerial Squadron, Master Sergeant; Transportation Specialist);
19?? to 20??
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Governor's Advisory Board for Technology for Persons with Disabilities;
1993 to ?
[Appointed]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Dorothy "Dottie" Adams (when first elected, she died in September 2006); Widower; Ruth Luffey (remarried, while in office in May of 2009)
Children:
Eight children: Leah, Rachel, Janelle, and Emily (two of his daughters are twins); Benjamin (son), Kristina, Elise, Jeremy
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special legislative concerns: energy, agriculture, special needs individuals' health care, smaller government, economic development and jobs, promote small business growth.
He was raised on a dairy farm in Minnesota, the eldest of eight children.
He ran unsuccessfully as the Republican endorsed candidate for the United States House of Representatives in the 1990 election.
He ran unsuccessfully as the Independent Republican party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1992 election.
Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1999-2000. He is a founding member of the Buffalo Evangelical Free Church.