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Ozment, Dennis D.

House 1985-92 (District 37B); House 1993-2002 (District 37A); House 2003-08 (District 37B)

Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

Counties Served:  Dakota, Goodhue, Washington

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/2/1945
Birth Place: Farmington, Minnesota
Birth County: Dakota
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion: Baptist
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Rosemount
Occupation (when first elected): Fire Captain

EDUCATION

Rosemount High School; Secondary;
Metropolitan Community College; Junior College/Community College; Fire Science
University of Minnesota; Attended College; Public Administration

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: United States Marine Corps (Vietnam Era); 10/08/1962 to 02/06/1966
Municipal Government: Minneapolis, Minnesota (City Fire Department, Captain, 27 years); 05/06/1968 to 05/06/1995
Municipal Board/Commission: Rosemount, Minnesota (City Planning Commission); 1975 to 1976
U.S. Executive Branch: U.S. Fire Administration, Washington D.C. (Fire Academy); 1976 to 1979

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Gayle
Children: Two children
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He described his path to public service in an email to library staff:
"While serving as a Minneapolis Fire inspector 40 years ago, I became very
involved in the new 1970 technologies of 'home smoke detection'. Because
of this unusual expertise, I was transferred via the 'Intergovernmental
Personal Act' to Washington D.C. where I wrote and delivered a 'National
Home Smoke Detector Training Program and Manuals' for our nation's fire
service. Through this activity I witnessed how government action could
save, and continues to save, thousands of lives. The experience inspired
me to get more involved. I started running for elective office." (Email
dated February 21, 2013)

Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005.

He unsuccessfully ran for a House seat twice before winning.

Total Days Served: 8764

SESSIONS SERVED

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
Counties Represented: Dakota
Occupation: Retired Fire Fighter/Fire Captain
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
  • Finance: Energy Finance and Policy Division Minutes
  • Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes
  • Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division: Drinking Water Source Protection Minutes
  • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
  • Ways and Means Minutes

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/2/2004
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: Dakota
Occupation: Retired Fire Fighter/Fire Captain
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Finance (Chair) Minutes
  • Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
  • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
  • Ways and Means Minutes

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
Counties Represented: Dakota
Occupation: Legislator/Retired Fire Captain
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Environment and Natural Resources Finance (Chair) Minutes
  • Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
  • Regulated Industries Minutes
  • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
  • Ways and Means Minutes

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37A
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented: Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Retired Fire Captain
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
  • Environment and Natural Resources Policy (Chair) Minutes
  • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes
  • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes

81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37A
Elected: 11/3/1998
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented: Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Consultant
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Commerce Minutes
  • Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
  • Environment and Natural Resources Policy (Chair) Minutes
  • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37A
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
Counties Represented: Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Retired Fire Captain
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Regulated Industries and Energy
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
  • Taxes Minutes
  • Taxes: Property Tax and Tax Increment Financing Division Minutes
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37A
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented: Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Fire Captain, Minneapolis
Party: Independent Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Joint Claims
  • Regulated Industries and Energy
  • Ways and Means
  • Ways and Means: Government Efficiency and Oversight Division

78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37A
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995
Counties Represented: Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Fire Captain, Minneapolis
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Education Standards
  • Education: K-12 Education Finance Division
  • Education: K-12 Education Finance Division: Facilities
  • Education: K-12 Education Finance Division: Secondary Vocational
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Regulated Industries and Energy

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
Occupation: Fire Captain, Minneapolis
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Education Finance Division
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Regulated Industries

76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/8/1988
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
Occupation: Fire Captain, Minneapolis
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Education Finance Division
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Solid Waste
  • Regulated Industries

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
Occupation: Fire Captain, Minneapolis
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Education Finance Division
  • Education: School Facilities
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Social Services
  • Higher Education
  • Metropolitan Affairs
  • Metropolitan Affairs: Environment
  • Metropolitan Affairs: Transportation

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 37B
Elected: 11/6/1984
Residence: Rosemount
Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
Occupation: Fire Captain
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Crime and Family Law
  • Crime and Family Law: Family Law
  • Governmental Operations
  • Governmental Operations: Water Resource Management (Chair) [We found that he was named the Chair of the Governmental Operations Committee's Water Resource Management Subcommittee from a newspaper article (Cannon Falls Beacon 7/25/1985). We do not have a record of who else served on this subcommittee.]
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Social Services
  • Local and Urban Affairs
  • Local and Urban Affairs: Metropolitan Affairs
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Special Subcommittee on Department of Transportation
Articles & Books About
Busse, Nick. "In the Middle, a Man Apart." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 28, 2008, p. 21.

"Rep. Ozment Chairman of Water Subcommittee." Cannon Falls Beacon, July 25, 1985.


District Files

District File - 2002 District 37A
District File - 2003 District 37B
District File - 2004 District 37B
District File - 2005 District 37B
District File - 2006 District 37B
District File - 2007 District 37B
District File - 2008 District 37B

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