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    Swanson, James C.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1969-72 (District 28B); House 1973-82 (District 37B); House 1983-84 (District 40A)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 4/5/1934
    Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Birth County: Hennepin
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 8/2/2024
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Covenant
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Richfield
    Occupation (when first elected): Vocational Instructor, Dunwoody Institute

    EDUCATION

    Minnehaha Academy High School; Secondary; Graduate
    Dunwoody Industrial Institute, Minneapolis; Vocational-Technical School; Sheet Metal Course, Graduate
    University of Minnesota; B.S.; Industrial Arts Education
    University of Minnesota; Attended Graduate School; Education Administration, Masters Program

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Advisory Council for Vocational Education; 19?? to 19?? [Appointed]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Educational Council; 19?? to 19?? [Appointed]
    School Board/Administration: Richfield, Minnesota (School Board, Director, 1965-68; Treasurer, 1967-68); 1965 to 1968 [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Elizabeth (married on August 11, 1956)
    Children: Two children: Victoria (Vicki) and Derrick
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

    He was a founder of Metropolitan State University.

    He is interred at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    He was a member of Bethlehem Covenant Church.

    Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1979-80 and the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5845

    SESSIONS SERVED

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: House
    District: 40A
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Richfield
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Adult Coordinator, Hennepin Technical Centers
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
    • Health and Welfare (Chair)

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: House
    District: 37B
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Richfield
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
    Oath Date: 1/6/1981
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Adult Director; Administrator, Hennepin Technical Center, Katherine Curren Center
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance
    • Health and Welfare (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    term photo
    Click to view

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: House
    District: 37B
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: Richfield
    Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/3/1979
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Adult Director, Hennepin Technical Center, South Campus, Night School/Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs (Chair) [He was the Chair in 1979 only.]
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: General Law and Veterans Affairs
    • Health and Welfare (Chair) [He was the Chair in 1980 only.]
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    Session Notes: His margin of victory over George Evans was only 160 votes. George Evans filed a lawsuit alleging there were errors in the counting of ballots. It's unclear what happened to the lawsuit but James C. Swanson served the entire term.

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
    Body: House
    District: 37B
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Richfield
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 12/31/1978
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Evening School Coordinator; Adult Director, Hennepin Technical Center, South Campus/Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Health and Welfare (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    term photo
    Click to view

    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
    Body: House
    District: 37B
    Elected: 11/5/1974
    Residence: Richfield
    Term of Office: 1/6/1975 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/7/1975
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Evening School Coordinator/Adult Director; Hennepin Technical Center, South Campus
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Deinstitutionalization
    • Health and Welfare (Chair)
    • Higher Education
    • Rules and Legislative Administration

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
    Body: House
    District: 37B
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Richfield
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/5/1975
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Vocational Instructor, Hennepin Technical Centers
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Health and Welfare (Chair)
    • Higher Education
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    term photo
    Click to view

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
    Body: House
    District: 28B
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Richfield
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Oath Date: 1/5/1971
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Vocational Instructor, Occupational Skill Training Center, Minneapolis
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • City Government
    • Financial Institutions
    • Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Higher Education

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1969
    Body: House
    District: 28B
    Elected: 11/5/1968
    Residence: Richfield
    Term of Office: 1/6/1969 to 1/3/1971
    Oath Date: 1/7/1969
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Vocational Instructor, Dunwoody Institute
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Cities of the Second and Third Class
    • Claims
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Health and Welfare
    • Higher Education
    term photo
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    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.
    No other information has been entered for this legislator.

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