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Vickerman, James A. "Jim"

Senate 1987-92 (District 28); Senate 1993-2010 (District 22)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Watonwan

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/1/1931
Birth Place: Tracy, Minnesota
Birth County: Lyon
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 1/19/2021
Gender: Male
Religion: Methodist
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Jim
City of Residence (when first elected): Tracy
Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

EDUCATION

Rural School; Elementary School; One Room Schoolhouse
Tracy High School; Secondary; 1949

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

County Government: Murray County, Minnesota (Soil and Water Conservation Board, Supervisor, 12 years); 1969 to 1980
County Board/Commissioner: Murray County, Minnesota (County Commissioner); 1981 to 1986 [Elected]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Wava Carlson (married on April 5, 1950)
Children: Six children: (one child was deceased while he was in office)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Barbara Vickerman  - Cousin-in-Law

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: taxes, environment and natural resources, health and human services, agriculture, local and metro concerns, education, rural health, transportation, veterans, local government.

He grew up on a farm.

Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006, and the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1987-88.

Total Days Served: 8764

SESSIONS SERVED

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 22
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Veterans (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Finance
  • Finance: Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division (Chair)
  • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division
  • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Energy Subdivision
  • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Parks and Trails Legacy
  • State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
  • State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Gaming

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 22
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Veterans (Chair)
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Finance [He was a member in 2008 only.]
  • Finance: Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division (Chair)
  • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division
  • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Energy Subdivision
  • State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
  • State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Gaming

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 22
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming (Chair)
  • Finance: Environment, Agriculture and Economic Development Budget Division
  • Finance: State Government Budget Division
  • Finance: Transportation Budget Division
  • Rules and Administration (Chair)
  • State and Local Government Operations
  • Transportation
Leadership Position: Majority Whip

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 22
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
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:
  • Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs-2003/Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming-2004 (Chair) [He was the Chair in 2004 only.]
  • Finance: Environment, Agriculture and Economic Development Budget Division [He was a member in 2004 only.]
  • Finance: State Government Budget Division
  • Rules and Administration
  • State and Local Government Operations (Chair)
Leadership Position: Majority Whip

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 22
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Redwood, Watonwan
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
  • Finance
  • Finance: State Government, Economic Development and Judiciary Budget Division
  • Rules and Administration
  • State and Local Government Operations (Chair)

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 22
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Redwood, Watonwan
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources/Agriculture and Rural Development/State Government Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
  • Local and Metropolitan Government (Chair)
  • Taxes
  • Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 22
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Redwood, Watonwan
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources/Agriculture and Rural Development/State Government Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
  • Local and Metropolitan Government (Chair)
  • Taxes
  • Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 22
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Redwood, Watonwan
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Health Care
  • Health Care: Health Care and Family Services Finance Division
  • Metropolitan and Local Government (Chair)
  • Metropolitan and Local Government: Intergovernmental Relations
  • Metropolitan and Local Government: Metropolitan Affairs
  • Rules and Administration
  • Transportation and Public Transit
  • Transportation and Public Transit: Transportation and Public Transit Finance Division

78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 22
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Redwood, Watonwan
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Health Care
  • Health Care: Health Care and Family Services Finance Division
  • Rules and Administration
  • Transportation and Public Transit
  • Transportation and Public Transit: Transportation and Public Transit Finance Division
  • Veterans and General Legislation (Chair)

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 28
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Watonwan
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Agriculture and Rural Development: Joint Agriculture and Rural Development/Environment and Natural Resources Ad Hoc
  • Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural Development
  • Finance
  • Finance: Health and Human Services Division
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Health Care Access Division
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Commercial Policy (Chair)
  • Transportation: Transportation Safety
  • Veterans and General Legislation

76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 28
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Watonwan
Occupation: Farmer/Former County Commissioner
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Agriculture and Rural Development: Agriculture Resources
  • Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural Development
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Health and Health Financing
  • Health and Human Services: Social Services and Government Administration
  • Local and Urban Government
  • Local and Urban Government: Land Use, Zoning and Planning
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: General Policy, Rural and Commercial
  • Veterans and Military Affairs

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 28
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Tracy
Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Watonwan
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Products/Processing
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Resources
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Health and Health Financing
  • Health and Human Services: Social Services and Government Administration
  • Local and Urban Government
  • Local and Urban Government: Land Use, Zoning and Planning
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: General Policy and Rural and Commercial

Articles & Books About

  • McGaughey, Ryan. "'Gentleman Jim' remembered for representing all." Worthington Globe, January 27, 2021.
  • "Vickerman, James Murray "Jim"" Star Tribune, January 24, 2021, B17.
  • Gau, Deb. "Former MN State Sen. Jim Vickerman Dies at 89: Tracy Area Farmer and Legislator Remembered as Advocate for Rural MN." Marshall Independent, January 22, 2021.

District Files

2001 (22)
2002 (22)
2003 (22)
2004 (22)
2005 (22)
2007 (22)
2008 (22)
2009 (22)
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Senators Sam Solon, Pat Piper, Jim Vickerman, and Linda Berglin at a Health and Human Services Committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1991-1994. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
Senator James Vickerman, Senator Don Anderson, and Senator Robert Decker confer during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987-1990. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
Senator Jim Vickerman and Senator Tracy Beckman examine a bill on the Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1987. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
Senator Jim Vickerman listens in committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1987. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
Senator Jim Vickerman speaks on the floor of the Senate, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1987. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
Senator Jim Vickerman, Senator Don Anderson, and Senator Robert Decker discuss a bill during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987-1990. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
Swearing-in ceremony in the Senate Chamber during the opening day of the 1987 legislative session, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1987. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.


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.