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Johnson, Dean Elton

House 1979-82 (District 21A); Senate 1983-2002 (District 15); Senate 2003-2006 (District 13)

Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

Counties Served:  Chippewa, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Pope, Renville, Stearns, Yellow Medicine

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/24/1947
Birth Place: Lanesboro, Minnesota
Birth County: Fillmore
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion: Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Willmar
Occupation (when first elected): Clergy/Chaplain, Minnesota Army National Guard/Former Pastor Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar

EDUCATION

Lanesboro High School; Secondary;
Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; B.A.; Business Administration
Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul; M.Div.; Master of Divinity
U.S. Army War College; M.S.S.; Strategic Studies, 2002

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: Minnesota Army National Guard; 19?? to 2???
Municipal Government: Willmar, Minnesota (Fire Department); 19?? to 19??
Municipal Council/Aldermen: Willmar, Minnesota (City Council); 1977 to 1978 [Elected]
Board of Regents: University of Minnesota; 2007 to 2013 [Elected]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Single (when first elected); Avonelle (first listed in 1985, she died in 2005 while he was in office); Widower
Children: One child
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: criminal justice, business climate, agriculture, welfare reform, transportation, public education, rural economic development, telecommunications, taxes.

He grew up on a farm.

He served as Senate Minority Leader as an Independent Republican member and Senate Majority Leader as a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member.

Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

Total Days Served: 10227

SESSIONS SERVED

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 13
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Pope, Stearns
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/National Guard Chaplain, Brigadier General
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:
  • Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming
  • Capital Investment
  • Finance: Transportation Budget Division
  • Rules and Administration (Chair)
  • Rules and Administration: Committees (Chair)
  • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
  • Rules and Administration: Personnel (Chair)
  • Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
  • Transportation
Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 13
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Pope, Stearns
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/National Guard Chaplain, Brigadier General (Select)
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:
  • Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs-2003/Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming-2004 [He was a member in 2004 only.]
  • Capital Investment
  • Finance [He was a member in 2003 only.]
  • Finance: Transportation Policy and Budget Division (Chair) [He was the Chair in 2003 only.]
  • Rules and Administration (Chair)
  • Rules and Administration: Elections
  • Rules and Administration: Ethical Conduct
  • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
  • State and Local Government Operations
Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Leadership Notes: He was elected Majority Leader in 2004.

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 15
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Yellow Medicine
Occupation: Lutheran Minister, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/National Guard Chaplain
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
  • Finance
  • Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Budget Division (Chair)
  • Rules and Administration
  • Rules and Administration: Elections
  • Rules and Administration: Ethical Conduct
  • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
  • Transportation

81st Legislative Session (1999-2000) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 15
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Yellow Medicine
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/National Guard Chaplain (Colonel)
Party: Republican Party Notes: He switched to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party on January 12, 2000.
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Education Finance
  • Election Laws
  • Rules and Administration
  • Rules and Administration: Committees
  • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
  • Rules and Administration: Personnel
  • Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
  • Transportation
  • Transportation/State Government Finance: Transportation Budget Division

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 15
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Yellow Medicine
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/National Guard Chaplain (Colonel)
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Education Finance
  • Election Laws
  • Rules and Administration
  • Rules and Administration: Committees
  • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
  • Rules and Administration: Personnel
  • Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
  • Transportation
  • Transportation/State Government Finance: Transportation Budget Division
Leadership Position: Minority Leader
Leadership Notes: He resigned from his position as Minority Leader in July 1997.

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 15
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Yellow Medicine
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/Chaplain (Colonel) Minnesota Army National Guard
Party: Independent Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Ethics and Campaign Reform
  • Finance
  • Finance: Capital Budget
  • Gaming Regulation
  • Rules and Administration
  • Rules and Administration: Committees
  • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
  • Rules and Administration: Personnel
  • Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
Leadership Position: Minority Leader

78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 15
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Yellow Medicine
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/Chaplain (Colonel) MN Army National Guard
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Ethics and Campaign Reform
  • Finance
  • Gaming Regulation
  • Rules and Administration
  • Rules and Administration: Committees
  • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
  • Rules and Administration: Personnel
  • Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
Leadership Position: Minority Leader

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 15
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Pope, Stearns
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/Chaplain (LTC) MN Army National Guard
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Elections and Ethics
  • Finance
  • Finance: Education Division
  • Finance: Joint Claims
  • Gaming Regulation
  • Rules and Administration
  • Rules and Administration: Special Committee on Ethical Conduct
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Commercial Policy
  • Veterans and General Legislation
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 15
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Pope, Stearns
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/Chaplain (LTC) MN Army National Guard
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Elections and Ethics
  • Finance
  • Finance: Education Division
  • Finance: Health and Human Services Division
  • Finance: Joint Claims
  • General Legislation and Public Gaming
  • Public Utilities and Energy
  • Public Utilities and Energy: Utilities
  • Rules and Administration
  • Rules and Administration: Special Committee on Ethical Conduct

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 15
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Pope, Stearns
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/Chaplain (Major) MN Army National Guard
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Elections and Ethics
  • Finance
  • Finance: Education Division
  • General Legislation and Public Gaming
  • Public Utilities and Energy
  • Public Utilities and Energy: Deregulated Industries
  • Rules and Administration
  • Rules and Administration: Special Committee on Ethical Conduct
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 15
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Pope, Stearns
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/Chaplain (Major) MN Army National Guard
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Elections and Ethics
  • Finance
  • Finance: Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Income Maintenance
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Criminal Law
  • Judiciary: Judicial Administration
  • Rules and Administration: Special Committee on Ethical Conduct
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 15
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, Pope, Stearns
Occupation: Lutheran Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/Realtor
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Elections and Ethics
  • Finance
  • Finance: Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Income Maintenance
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Criminal Law
  • Judiciary: Judicial Administration
  • Rules and Administration: Special Committee on Ethical Conduct

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 21A
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented: Kandiyohi
Occupation: Clergy, Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar/Real Estate
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: State Departments Division
  • Criminal Justice
  • Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement and Corrections
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance

71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 21A
Elected: 11/7/1978
Residence: Willmar
Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented: Kandiyohi
Occupation: Clergy/Chaplain, Minnesota Army National Guard/Former Pastor Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: State Departments Division
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
  • Local and Urban Affairs
  • Local and Urban Affairs: Governmental Administration and Structures