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Pappas, Sandra L. "Sandy"

Official Senate Web Page Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1985-90 (District 65B); Senate 1991-2012 (District 65); Senate 2013-Present (District 65)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Ramsey

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/15/1949

Birth Place: Hibbing, Minnesota

Birth County: St. Louis

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Female

Religion: Jewish

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Sandy

City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul

Occupation (when first elected): Legislator

EDUCATION

Robbinsdale High School; Secondary;
University of Minnesota;
Metropolitan State University; B.A.; Public Policy, 1986
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; M.P.A.; Bush Fellowship

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Neal Gosman
Children: Three children: Merissa, Nicolea, and Cassarah (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: community development, education, taxes and tax policy, transportation, transit, metropolitan issues, women's issues, children's issues, immigrant issues, labor, health care, consumer protection.

She ran as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsed candidate for Mayor of St. Paul in 1997; she lost to Norm Coleman.

Religion according to Jewish Community Relations Council and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

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Total Days Served: 13438

SESSIONS SERVED

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Executive Director, Forward Global Women

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2021 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2021 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy

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91st Legislative Session (2019-2020) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Vice President, Women Legislators' Lobby

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
2020 3rd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 3rd Sp.S. - Author
2020 5th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 5th Sp.S. - Author
2020 6th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 6th Sp.S. - Author
2020 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
Rules and Administration

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Vice President, Women Legislator's Lobby

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
Rules and Administration

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89th Legislative Session (2015-2016) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Vice President, Women Legislators' Lobby

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce
Finance
Finance: Subcommittee on Equity
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees Subcommittee
Rules and Administration: Ethical Conduct Subcommittee (Chair)
Rules and Administration: Personnel and Budget Subcommittee (Chair)
State and Local Government

Leadership Position: President of the Senate

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Vice President, Women Legislator's Lobby

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce
Finance
Rules and Administration
State and Local Government (Chair)

Leadership Position: President of the Senate

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Higher Education

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator/College Instructor; Political Science, Metropolitan State University

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance
Finance: Higher Education Budget and Policy Division (Chair)
Finance: State Government Budget Division
Higher Education (Chair)
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Elections

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator/College Instructor, Political Science, Metropolitan State University

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance
Finance: Higher Education Budget and Policy Division (Chair)
Finance: State Government Budget Division
Higher Education (Chair)
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Elections

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: College Instructor

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:

Capital Investment
Commerce
Commerce: Liquor (Chair)
Finance
Finance: Early Childhood Policy and Budget Division
Finance: Higher Education Budget Division (Chair)
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Economic Development and Tourism
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Housing
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: College Instructor

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:

Capital Investment
Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004
Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004: Liquor (Chair)
Education
Finance
Finance: Higher Education Budget Division (Chair)
Jobs, Housing and Community Development-2003/Jobs, Energy and Community Development-2004 [She was a member in 2004 only.]
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
2002 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2002 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Insurance
Education (Chair)
Education: Assessment and Testing
Education: Early Childhood Education
Education: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division
Education: Technology
Education: Workforce Education
Rules and Administration
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax Budget Division
Transportation

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Children, Families and Learning
Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
Local and Metropolitan Government
Taxes
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax
Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division (Chair)
Transportation

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Children, Families and Learning
Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
Local and Metropolitan Government
Taxes
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax
Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division (Chair)
Transportation

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Metropolitan and Local Government
Metropolitan and Local Government: Metropolitan Affairs
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax
Transportation and Public Transit

78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Metropolitan and Local Government
Metropolitan and Local Government: Metropolitan Affairs
Metropolitan and Local Government: Metropolitan and Local Government Tax Division
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax
Transportation and Public Transit

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77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Consumer Protection/Regulated Industries (Liquor)
Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Education: Higher Education
Education: Joint Senate/House Libraries (Chair)
Metropolitan Affairs
Transportation
Transportation: Public Transportation
Transportation: Transportation Safety

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 65B

Elected: 11/8/1988

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator/Homemaker

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-State Division
Appropriations: Computer
Insurance
Judiciary
Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division
Judiciary: Facilities Assessment (Chair)

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 65B

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: State Departments Division
Judiciary
Judiciary: Crime and Family Law Division
Judiciary: Sentencing Guidelines
Labor-Management Relations
Metropolitan Affairs
Metropolitan Affairs: Environment
Metropolitan Affairs: Government Structure
Rules and Legislative Administration

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 65B

Elected: 11/6/1984

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Crime and Family Law
Crime and Family Law: Family Law
Judiciary
Transportation
Transportation: Special Subcommittee on Department of Transportation

Session Notes: Her margin of victory over Frank J. Rodriguez, Sr. in the 1984 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary election was so small that a recount occurred.

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About
"House Bids Farewell to Five Members." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 13, 1990, p. 10.

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

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Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN 55155