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    Paulsen, Erik

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1995-2008 (District 42B)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 5/14/1965
    Birth Place: Bakersfield, California
    Birth County: Kern
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Eden Prairie
    Occupation (when first elected): None Listed

    EDUCATION

    Chaska High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1983
    St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota; B.A.; Mathematics, 1987

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States House of Representatives (Staff Member for United States Representative Jim Ramstad in Washington D.C.; Then State Director for United States Representative Jim Ramstad in Minnesota); 19?? to 199?
    U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States Senate (Intern for United States Senator Rudy Boschwitz); 1989 to 19??
    U.S. Representative: 3rd Congressional District, Minnesota; 01/06/2009 to 2???

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Kelly
    Children: Four children: Cassie, Briana, Tayler, and Liesl (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He grew up in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

    He was a member of Victory Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1999-2000 and a newspaper article.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5117

    SESSIONS SERVED

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business Analyst, Target Corporation
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair) Minutes
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair) Minutes
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/7/2000
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2002 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/3/1998
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:

    80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/5/1996
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education Minutes
    • Education: Facilities Minutes
    • Education: Higher Education Finance Division Minutes
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs

    79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 42B
    Elected: 11/8/1994
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Independent Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: Higher Education Finance Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Labor-Management Relations
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Session Interviews
    Session Interview (Video) 2006 House Interview

    Session Interview (Video) 2005 House Interview


    Articles & Books About
    Hogenson, Brian. "Seizing an Unexpected Opportunity." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, May 2, 2008, p. 20.

    Wetzel, Matt. "More or Less: Republicans, DFL Take Different Paths When Establishing Leadership Structure." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 7, 2005, p. 7.

    Bryant, Miranda. "Up to the Challenge: Paulsen Ready to Fill Some Big Shoes as Majority Leader by Making Strides of His Own." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 24, 2003, p. 14.

    Specktor, Mordecai. "Paulsen Applies Market Principles to Government." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 17, 1995, p. 14.

    Paulsen, Erik. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


    District Files

    District File - 2002 District 42B
    District File - 2003 District 42B
    District File - 2004 District 42B
    District File - 2005 District 42B
    District File - 2006 District 42B
    District File - 2007 District 42B
    District File - 2008 District 42B

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

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