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Wiger, Sr., Charles W. "Chuck"

Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 1997-2012 (District 55); Senate 2013-2022 (District 43)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Ramsey, Washington

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 9/14/1951

Birth Place: Saint Paul, Minnesota

Birth County: Ramsey

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Catholic

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Chuck

City of Residence (when first elected): North Saint Paul

Occupation (when first elected): Writer/Public Affairs/Attorney

EDUCATION

North High School; Secondary;
Hamline University; B.A.; Magna Cum Laude
University of Colorado, Boulder, Graduate Institute of Organization Management; Attended Graduate School;
Hamline University School of Law; J.D.; 1977

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

County Government: Ramsey County, Minnesota (Soil and Water Conservation District); 19?? to ? [Elected]

County Government: Ramsey County, Minnesota (Parks and Recreation Commission); 19?? to ?

State Legislative Staff: Minnesota Senate (Intern for Senator Jerome Hughes); 197? to 197?

School Board/Administration: District 622, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, Minnesota (School Board); 1973 to 1990 [Elected]

State Agency: Minnesota Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities (Apponted by Governor Rudy Perpich); 06/1983 to 01/1989 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse:
Children: Five children: Jessica, Charles Jr., Angelina, Brittany, and Carolyn
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: education, economic development, health care, environment, water sustainability.

Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

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Total Days Served: 9492

SESSIONS SERVED

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: Senate

District: 43

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Maplewood

Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
Oath Date: 1/5/2021

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Retired attorney

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
Education Finance and Policy
Local Government Policy
Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: Senate

District: 43

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Maplewood

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2019 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2019 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st 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

Committees:

Capital Investment
E-12 Finance and Policy
Local Government

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: Senate

District: 43

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Maplewood

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment [He was a member in 2018 only.]
E-12 Finance
Local Government

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: Senate

District: 43

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Maplewood

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2015 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2015 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Finance
Finance: E-12 Policy and Budget Division (Chair)
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Budget Division
Rules and Administration: Litigation Expenses Subcommittee
Transportation and Public Safety

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: Senate

District: 43

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Maplewood

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Education
Finance
Finance: E-12 Division (Chair)
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Division
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Litigation Expenses
Transportation and Public Safety

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Maplewood

Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Oath Date: 1/4/2011

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Education
Environment and Natural Resources
State Government Innovation and Veterans

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2009

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Maplewood

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Attorney, Securian Financial Legal Department

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Education
Education: Charter Schools
Finance
Finance: E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
Finance: Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Higher Education

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2007

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: North Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Attorney, St. Paul

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Education (Chair)
Finance: E-12 Education Budget Division
Finance: Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Higher Education

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: North Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Attorney

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:

Elections (Chair)
Finance
Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
Finance: Transportation Budget Division
Rules and Administration: Elections (Chair)
Rules and Administration: Litigation Expenses (Chair)
State and Local Government Operations
Transportation

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: North Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Attorney/Writer

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:

Elections-2004 (Chair)
Finance [He was a member in 2004 only.]
Finance: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division-2003/K-12 Education Budget Division-2004
Finance: Transportation Policy and Budget Division
Rules and Administration: Litigation Expenses (Chair)
State and Local Government Operations

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: North Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Oath Date: 1/3/2001

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Writer/Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment
Education
Education: Assessment and Testing
Education: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division
Finance
Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
Jobs, Housing and Community Development

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: North Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Writer/Public Affairs/Attorney

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
Education Finance
Governmental Operations and Veterans
Governmental Operations and Veterans: Veterans (Chair)
Governmental Operations and Veterans/Election Laws/State Gov't. Finance Comm.: Governmental Operations Budget Division
Local and Metropolitan Government

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1997

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: North Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: Writer/Public Affairs/Attorney

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
Education Finance
Governmental Operations and Veterans
Governmental Operations and Veterans: Veterans (Chair)
Governmental Operations and Veterans/Election Laws/State Gov't. Finance Comm.: Governmental Operations Budget Division
Local and Metropolitan Government

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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.

District News Files

2000 (55)

2001 (55)

2002 (55)

2003 (55)

2004 (55)

2005 (55)

2006 (55)

2007 (55)

2008 (55)

2009 (55)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Charles Wiger signs on to a bill authored by Karla Bigham during a floor session in the Senate Chamber. Charles Wiger is a Democrat from Maplewood and Karla Bigham is a Democrat from Cottage Grove. 3/1/2018. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.

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Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 321 State Capitol, Saint Paul, MN 55155