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Osthoff, C. Thomas "Tom"

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1975-80 (District 64A); House 1982-2002 (District 66A)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Ramsey

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/8/1936

Birth Place: ,

Birth County:

Birth Country:

Date of Death: 1/9/2025

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Tom

City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul

Occupation (when first elected): Manager; Land Records Division, Ramsey County Dept. of Property Taxation

EDUCATION

University of Minnesota; Attended College;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Education Council; 19?? to 19??

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor's Non-Partisan Citizen's Comm. on Voter's Participation; 19?? to 19??

County Auditor: Ramsey County, Minnesota (Chief Deputy Auditor); 19?? to 19??

Military: United States Army Airborne (3 years); 19?? to 19??

Municipal Government: St. Paul, Minnesota (City Deputy Comptroller); 19?? to 19??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Sandra Lund Osthoff (she died in 1999); Widower
Children: One child: Tom (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

A private family service will held.

Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

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Total Days Served: 10227

SESSIONS SERVED

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Retired

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/3/1998

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1997

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 1/3/1999
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, Ramsey County Local Government Division

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance (Chair)
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance: Government Efficiency and Oversight
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections
Governmental Operations Minutes
Governmental Operations: Administrative Rules Minutes

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1995

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/8/1994

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/3/1995

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, Ramsey County Local Government Division

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Finance
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections (Chair)
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections: Elections Division
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections: Veterans Affairs
Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations: State Government Finance Division
Transportation and Transit
Transportation and Transit: Transportation Systems

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1993

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, Department of Records and Revenue

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Education: K-12 Education Finance Division
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
Governmental Operations and Gambling
Governmental Operations and Gambling: Gambling
Regulated Industries and Energy
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax
Transportation and Transit (Chair)
Transportation and Transit: Transit

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1991

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Oath Date: 1/8/1991

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, County Records Division

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Environment and Natural Resources Division
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming (Chair)
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming: Elections Division
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming: Veterans Affairs Division
Redistricting
Regulated Industries

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1989

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/8/1988

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/3/1989

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, County Records Division

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Computer
Appropriations: State Departments Division
Financial Institutions and Housing (Chair)
Financial Institutions and Housing: Banking (Chair)
Financial Institutions and Housing: Housing Division
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Elections Division
Regulated Industries

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1987

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, Records Division; Ramsey County Department of Taxation

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Financial Institutions
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Elections
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Gaming
Metropolitan Affairs (Chair)
Metropolitan Affairs: Environment
Metropolitan Affairs: Finance
Metropolitan Affairs: Government Structure
Metropolitan Affairs: Transportation
Regulated Industries
Taxes [Tom Osthoff and Linda Scheid were removed from this committee by Speaker Fred Norton in 1987 the day after they voted against the 1987 Omnibus Tax bill.]
Taxes: Property Tax Division

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1985

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/6/1984

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/8/1985

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, Land Records Division

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Financial Institutions and Insurance
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Elections
Regulated Industries and Energy
Regulated Industries and Energy: Gaming
Regulated Industries and Energy: Utilities
Rules and Legislative Administration
Taxes
Taxes: Local Government Finance Division

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1983

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
Oath Date: 1/4/1983

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, Land Records Division, Ramsey County

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Elections (Chair)
Taxes
Taxes: Tax Laws Division (Chair)
Taxes: Tax Laws Division: Property Tax Policy and Administration Subcommittee
Taxes: Tax Laws Division: Property Tax System Subcommittee
Taxes: Tax Laws Division: State-Local Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1981

Body: House

District: 64A

Elected: 11/4/1980

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
Oath Date: 1/6/1981

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, Land Records Division, Ramsey County Department of Property Taxation

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Semi-State Division
Appropriations: Telecommunication and Information Systems
Commerce and Economic Development
Commerce and Economic Development: Economic Development
Commerce and Economic Development: Liquor
Commerce and Economic Development: Oil Decontrol Task Force
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
Reapportionment and Elections
Reapportionment and Elections: Election Laws (Chair)

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71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1979

Body: House

District: 64A

Elected: 11/7/1978

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
Oath Date: 1/3/1979

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, Land Records Division, Ramsey County Department of Property Taxation

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Education Division
Appropriations: Semi-State Division
Commerce, Economic Development and Housing
Commerce, Economic Development and Housing: Tourism and Consumer Protection
Financial Institutions and Insurance [He served in 1980 only.]
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Elections and Campaign Practices (Chair)
Rules and Legislative Administration [He served in 1979 only.]
Rules and Legislative Administration: Rules

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1977

Body: House

District: 64A

Elected: 11/2/1976

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 12/31/1978
Oath Date: 1/4/1977

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager, Land Records Division, Ramsey County Department of Property Taxation

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Transportation

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69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1975

Body: House

District: 64A

Elected: 11/5/1974

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/1975 to 1/2/1977
Oath Date: 1/7/1975

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Manager; Land Records Division, Ramsey County Dept. of Property Taxation

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Governmental Operations
Transportation

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Maeda, David. "Ready to Relax: After 28 Years of Fighting for St. Paul, Osthoff Says It's the Right Time to Step Aside." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 19, 2002, p. 15.

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 (66A)

2001 (66A)

2002 (66A)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Legislators Past & Present Home

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