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    Nichols, James W. "Jim"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1977-81 (District 20)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Yellow Medicine

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/19/1946
    Birth Place:
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Jim
    City of Residence (when first elected): Lake Benton
    Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

    EDUCATION

    University of Minnesota, Morris; B.A.;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Agency: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (Commissioner); 1982 to 1990

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Linda (no longer listed in 1981); Joyce Elaine (married May 29, 1981)
    Children: Three children
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: agriculture, education.

    He ran as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party endorsed candidate for the United States House of Representatives in the 2nd Congressional District in 1982. He lost to Vin Weber.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 1559

    SESSIONS SERVED

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: Senate
    District: 20
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Lake Benton
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 4/10/1981 (unfinished term)
    Oath Date: 1/6/1981
    Counties Represented: Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Yellow Medicine
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources (Chair)
    • Employment
    • Employment: Labor (Chair)
    • Public Employees and Pensions
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Agricultural Property Tax (Chair)
    Reason for unfinished term: Resigned
    Session Notes: He resigned on April 10, 1981 citing the needs of his family and farm.
    term photo
    Click to view

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: Senate
    District: 20
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Lake Benton
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Yellow Medicine
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources (Chair)
    • Employment
    • Employment: Labor
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Civil Administration Regulatory Reform-1980
    • Governmental Operations: Regulatory Reform-1979
    • Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources/Governmental Operations/Local Government/Taxes and Tax Laws/Transportation: Agricultural Land Preservation
    • Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources/Health, Welfare and Corrections: Nutrition
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales and Property Tax

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
    Body: Senate
    District: 20
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Lake Benton
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Yellow Medicine
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Public Land and Water Resources (Chair)
    • Education
    • Education: Joint House/Senate Subcommittee on Libraries
    • Education: Post-Secondary and Higher Education
    • Education: Special Programs
    • Employment
    • Employment: Labor
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Structure
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    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.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    Photographs

    Senator Nancy Brataas and Senator Jim Nichols confer on the Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1978-1981. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

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