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Knoblach, Jim

House 1995-2002 (District 16B); House 2003-2006 (District 15A); House 2015-2018 (District 14B)

Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

Counties Served:  Benton, Sherburne, Stearns

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/5/1957
Birth Place: ,
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion: Christian
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Cloud
Occupation (when first elected): Small Business Owner

EDUCATION

St. Cloud Apollo High School; Secondary;
C.P.A.;
St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota; B.S.; Economics and Business Administration
Harvard University; M.B.A.;
Georgetown University; M.A.; American Government, 1980s

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States Senate (Staff Member for the Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations); 1986 to 1986

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Janet
Children: Two children: Daniel (son), Laura Ellen (daughter, born while he was in office)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He sought and lost the Republican party endorsement to Michele Bachmann for the 6th Congressional House District in May 2006.

He suspended his campaign for re-election in September, 2018. He was on the ballot in November 2018 and was defeated in the general election.

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

Total Days Served: 5846

SESSIONS SERVED

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 14B
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/7/2019
Counties Represented: Benton, Sherburne, Stearns
Occupation: Small-Business Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 14B
Elected: 11/4/2014
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented: Benton, Sherburne, Stearns
Occupation: Small-Business Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Education Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Environment & Natural Resources Policy & Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Higher Education Policy & Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Job Growth & Energy Affordability Policy & Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Legacy Funding Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy & Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • State Government Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Taxes Minutes
  • Taxes: Property Tax & Local Government Finance Division Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Transportation Policy & Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Ways and Means (Chair) Minutes

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 15A
Elected: 11/2/2004
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Capital Investment Minutes
  • Education Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Health Policy and Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Higher Education Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Jobs and Economic Opportunity Policy and Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Public Safety Policy and Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • State Government Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Taxes Minutes
  • Transportation Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Ways and Means (Chair) Minutes

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 15A
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Capital Investment Minutes
  • Education Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy Minutes
  • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Higher Education Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Jobs and Economic Development Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Judiciary Policy and Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • State Government Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Taxes Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Transportation Finance Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Ways and Means (Chair) Minutes

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/3/1998
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Small Business Owner/Certified Public Accountant
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Capital Investment
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance Minutes
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections
  • Health and Human Services Minutes

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 16B
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented: Stearns
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Party: Independent Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Capital Investment
  • Governmental Operations
  • Governmental Operations: Administrative Rules
  • Governmental Operations: Gambling Division
  • Governmental Operations: State Government Finance Division
Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2015 House Interview


Articles & Books About
Thilmany, Jean. "Knoblach Brings an 'Eclectic' Background to House." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 10, 1995, p. 14.



The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.