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Gerlach, Chris

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1999-2002 (District 36A); House 2003-2004 (District 37A); Senate 2004-2012 (District 37)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Dakota

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/17/1964

Birth Place: Apple Valley, Minnesota

Birth County: Dakota

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Covenant

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Apple Valley

Occupation (when first elected): Small Business Owner, Telecommunications Sales Representative

EDUCATION

Apple Valley High School; Secondary;
University of St. Thomas; B.A.; Political Science
University of South Dakota; M.B.A.; Business

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol; 1978 to 20??

Military: United States Air Force (Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Crew Commander, Catain, Lieutenant; College Reserve Officer Training Corps); 1988 to 1993

County Board/Commissioner: Dakota County, Minnesota (County Commissioner); 2013 to 2020

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Shelli
Children: Two children: Erica (daughter), Garret (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: tax relief, less government spending, education reform, public safety.

Religion provided by Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1999-2000.

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Total Days Served: 5117

SESSIONS SERVED

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: Senate

District: 37

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Apple Valley

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

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Self-Employed, Real Estate

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce and Consumer Protection (Chair)
Environment and Natural Resources
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Redistricting

Leadership Position: Majority Whip - He resigned from this position on December 27, 2011.

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2009

Body: Senate

District: 37

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Apple Valley

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Self-Employed, Real Estate

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Business, Industry and Jobs
Capital Investment
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Education
Finance: E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Elections

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2007

Body: Senate

District: 37

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Apple Valley

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Self-Employed, Real Estate

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Business, Industry and Jobs
Capital Investment
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Finance: E-12 Education Budget Division
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Elections

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: Senate

District: 37

Elected: 7/13/2004

Residence: Apple Valley

Term of Office: 7/21/2004 to 12/31/2006 (Special Election)
Oath Date: 7/21/2004

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Self-Employed, Real Estate

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Energy
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Housing

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

Session Notes: He won the Senate special election held due to the resignation of David Knutson. He took office on July 21, 2004.

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: Senate

District: 37

Elected: 7/13/2004

Residence: Apple Valley

Term of Office: 7/21/2004 to 12/31/2006 (Special Election)
Oath Date: 7/21/2004

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Self-Employed, Real Estate

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Session Notes: He won the Senate special election held due to the resignation of David Knutson. He took office on July 21, 2004.

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: House

District: 37A

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Apple Valley

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 7/20/2004 (unfinished term)
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Self-Employed/Sales

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment Minutes
Commerce, Jobs, and Economic Development Minutes
Jobs and Economic Development Finance Minutes

Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Whip

Reason for unfinished term: Elected to other office

Session Notes: He won the special election to Senate District 37 in July 2004. No special election was held for this House seat.

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: House

District: 36A

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Apple Valley

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

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Sales

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Commerce, Jobs, and Economic Development Minutes
Jobs and Economic Development Finance Minutes
Regulated Industries Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: House

District: 36A

Elected: 11/3/1998

Residence: Apple Valley

Term of Office: 1/4/1999 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/5/1999

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Small Business Owner, Telecommunications Sales Representative

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce Minutes
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy Minutes
State Government Finance Minutes

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Martin, Grant. "Gerlach Hammers Home Plan to Give Taxes the Ax." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 12, 1999, p. 21.

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

2000 (36A)

2001 (36A)

2002 (36A)

2003 (37)

2003 (37A)

2004 (37)

2004 (37A)

2005 (37)

2006 (37)

2007 (37)

2008 (37)

2009 (37)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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