Wenzel, Stephen G. "Steve"
House 1973-82 (District 12B); House 1983-92 (District 13B); House 1993-2001 (District 12B)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Counties Served:
Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
12/7/1946
Birth Place:
Little Falls, Minnesota
Birth County:
Morrison
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Steve
City of Residence (when first elected):
Little Falls
Occupation (when first elected):
Educator
EDUCATION
Morrison County Country Schools; Elementary School;
Little Falls High School; Secondary;
St. Cloud State College; B.S.; 1968
St. Cloud State College; Attended Graduate School; Educational Administration
University of Minnesota; Attended Graduate School;
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission:
United States Senate (Congressional Intern for United States Senator Walter Mondale);
1967 to 1967
U.S. Executive Branch:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development, Minnesota (State Director, Appointed by President George W. Bush);
08/2001 to 20??
[Appointed]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Single
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Mike LeMieur
- Nephew
GENERAL NOTES
He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
Steve Wenzel was a member of the DFL during his legislative tenure but became a Republican later in life, participating in the 2016 Republican National Convention and serving as a delegate to the 2020 Republican National Convention. (Star Tribune, August 25, 2020)
He ran as a Republican for Senate District 10 in the 2022 election, but lost the primary.
He was a member of St. Mary's Church in Little Falls, Minnesota.
Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.
Body: House
District: 12B
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 8/3/2001
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Educator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development Finance
Minutes
[He was a member in 2001 only.]
-
Agriculture and Rural Development Policy
Minutes
[He was a member in 2001 only]
-
Crime Prevention
Minutes
[He was a member in 2001 only]
-
Ways and Means
Minutes
[He was a member in 2001 only]
Reason for unfinished term:
Appointed to other office
Session Notes:
He was appointed State Director of Rural Development in the United States Department of Agriculture.
Body: House
District: 12B
Elected: 11/3/1998
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison
Occupation: Educator/Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development Finance
Minutes
-
Agriculture Policy
Minutes
-
Crime Prevention
-
Ways and Means
Minutes
Body: House
District: 12B
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
Counties Represented:
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison
Occupation: Educator/Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture (Chair)
Minutes
-
Agriculture: Joint House/Senate Special Select Subcommittee on Agricultural Education (Chair)
Minutes
-
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Minutes
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
Body: House
District: 12B
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Educator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture (Chair)
-
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Rural Development
-
Agriculture: Dairy Policy and Soil and Water Conservation
-
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
-
Labor-Management Relations
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Local Government
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
-
Rules and Legislative Administration: Administration
Body: House
District: 12B
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995
Counties Represented:
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Educator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture (Chair)
-
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Rural Development
-
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
-
Agriculture: Soil and Water Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance
-
Labor-Management Relations
Body: House
District: 13B
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented:
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Educator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture (Chair)
-
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Farm Programs
-
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
-
Agriculture: Rural Development, Marketing, and International Trade
-
Agriculture: Soil and Water Resources
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Environment and Natural Resources Division
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Labor-Management Relations
Body: House
District: 13B
Elected: 11/8/1988
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented:
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Former Educator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture (Chair)
-
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Farm Programs
-
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
-
Agriculture: Soil and Water Resources
-
Education
-
Education: Higher Education Division
-
Insurance
-
Labor-Management Relations
Body: House
District: 13B
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
Counties Represented:
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Former Educator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture (Chair)
-
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance Division
-
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
-
Agriculture: Farm Programs and Policies
-
Agriculture: International Trade, Farm Commodities, Agri-Business and Marketing
-
Agriculture: Soil and Water Conservation
-
Education
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance
-
Labor-Management Relations
Body: House
District: 13B
Elected: 11/6/1984
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented:
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Insurance
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Agriculture: Agricultural Products Marketing
-
Education
-
Education: Education Finance Division
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Body: House
District: 13B
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
Counties Represented:
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Insurance
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture (Chair)
-
Agriculture: Agricultural Exports and Marketing
-
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
-
Agriculture: Farm Policies and Programs
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Pensions and Investments
Body: House
District: 12B
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented:
Mille Lacs, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Life Insurance Representative/Former Educator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture (Chair)
-
Agriculture: Agriculture Products and Marketing
-
Agriculture: Farm Programs and Policies
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Oil Decontrol Task Force
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Administration
Body: House
District: 12B
Elected: 11/7/1978
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Mille Lacs, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Life Insurance Representative/Former Educator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Agriculture: Agriculture Products and Marketing
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Personnel
Body: House
District: 12B
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
Counties Represented:
Mille Lacs, Morrison
Occupation: Legislator/Life Insurance Sales Representative
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Governmental Operations
Body: House
District: 12B
Elected: 11/5/1974
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
Counties Represented:
Mille Lacs, Morrison
Occupation: Life Insurance Representative
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Governmental Operations
Body: House
District: 12B
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Little Falls
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented:
Mille Lacs, Morrison
Occupation: Educator
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Education
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs