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Davnie, Jim

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2001-2012 (District 62A); House 2013-2022 (District 63A)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 4/13/1959

Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Birth County: Hennepin

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion:

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis

Occupation (when first elected): Middle School Teacher, Buffalo Community Middle School/Former Professional Chef

EDUCATION

Bloomington Jefferson High School; Secondary;
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; B.S.; Psychology and Social Work
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; M.P.A.;
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; M.Ed.; Education

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Cara Letofsky
Children: Two children: Eamon, and Rose (she was born while he was in office)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He grew up in Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Bloomington.

He announced he would not seek reelection in 2022.

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Total Days Served: 8036

SESSIONS SERVED

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: House

District: 63A

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
Oath Date: 1/5/2021

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Executive Director, SciMathMN

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:

Commerce Finance and Policy Minutes
Early Childhood Finance and Policy Minutes
Education Finance (Chair) Minutes
Ethics (Chair) Minutes
Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy Minutes

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91st Legislative Session (2019-2020)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: House

District: 63A

Elected: 11/6/2018

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/7/2019 to 1/3/2021
Oath Date: 1/8/2019

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Executive Director, SciMathMN

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2019 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2019 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
2020 4th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 4th Sp.S. - Author
2020 5th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 5th Sp.S. - Author
2020 6th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 6th Sp.S. - Author
2020 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Ways & Means Minutes
Ways & Means: Education Finance Division (Chair) Minutes
Ways & Means: Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division Minutes

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: House

District: 63A

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/6/2019
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Executive Director, SciMathMN

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2017 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Education Finance Minutes
Job Growth & Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Minutes
Taxes Minutes

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89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: House

District: 63A

Elected: 11/4/2014

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/5/2015 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/6/2015

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Financial Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2015 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Education Finance Minutes
Education Innovation Policy Minutes
Taxes Minutes
Taxes: Property Tax & Local Government Finance Division Minutes

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: House

District: 63A

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Financial Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Education Finance Minutes
Education Policy Minutes
Ethics (Chair) Minutes
Taxes Minutes
Taxes: Property and Local Tax Division (Chair) Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Oath Date: 1/4/2011

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Financial Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Education Finance Minutes
Education Reform Minutes
Taxes Minutes

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2009

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/6/2009

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Social Studies Teacher, Buffalo Community Middle School

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2010 1st Sp.S. - Author
2010 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author 2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce and Labor Minutes
Commerce and Labor: Labor and Consumer Protection Division (Chair) Minutes
Finance: K-12 Education Finance Division Minutes
K-12 Education Policy and Oversight Minutes
Taxes Minutes

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2007

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Teacher, Buffalo Community Middle School

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce and Labor Minutes
Commerce and Labor: Labor and Consumer Protection Division (Chair) Minutes
E-12 Education Minutes
Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: K-12 Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: K-12 Finance Division: Disparities in Student Support and Service Minutes
Taxes Minutes

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/4/2005

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Teacher

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 Finance Minutes
Education Policy and Reform Minutes
Taxes Minutes

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Buffalo

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce, Jobs, and Economic Development Minutes
Education Finance Minutes
Education Policy Minutes

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: House

District: 62A

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Oath Date: 1/3/2001

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Middle School Teacher, Buffalo Community Middle School/Former Professional Chef

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Education Policy Minutes
K-12 Education Finance Minutes
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Maeda, David. "Lesson Plans." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 5, 2001, p. 16.

Session Interviews

House Interview 2022 (Video)
House Interview 2014 (Video)
House Interview 2008 (Video)
House Interview 2006 (Video)
House Interview 2003 (Video)

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.

District News Files

2001 (62A)

2002 (62A)

2003 (62A)

2004 (62A)

2005 (62A)

2006 (62A)

2008 (62A)

2009 (62A)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Legislators Past & Present Home

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