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Cornish, Tony

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2003-2012 (District 24B); House 2013-2017 (District 23B)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Blue Earth, Faribault, Le Sueur, Waseca, Watonwan

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/3/1951

Birth Place: ,

Birth County:

Birth Country:

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran-Missouri Synod

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Good Thunder

Occupation (when first elected): Conservation Officer, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

EDUCATION

Vernon Center Elementary School; Elementary School;
Garden City High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1969
Minnesota Military Academy; Postsecondary;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: United States Army National Guard (Officer, Captain, Company Commander-Tank Company, 12 years); 19?? to ?

Municipal Government: Amboy, Minnesota (Police Officer); 1975 to 1977

County Government: Blue Earth County, Minnesota (County Deputy Sheriff); 1977 to 1980

State Agency: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Conservation Officer/Game Warden); 07/1980 to 01/06/2003

Municipal Government: Lake Crystal, Minnesota (Chief of Police); 2007 to 2012

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Single (divorced before he was first elected)
Children: Three children: (2 sons, 1 daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was raised on a farm. He was one of nine children.

He is the Uncle of former Governor Jesse Ventura's wife, Terry. (Session Weekly, February 21, 2003)

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

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Total Days Served: 5443

SESSIONS SERVED

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: House

District: 23B

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Vernon Center

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 11/30/2017 (unfinished term)
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Waseca, Watonwan

Occupation: Retired 32-year Peace Officer

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment & Natural Resources Policy and Finance Minutes [He was a member in 2017 only.]
Public Safety & Security Policy and Finance (Chair) Minutes [Through November 9, 2017]
Ways & Means Minutes [He was a member in 2017 only.]

Reason for unfinished term: Resigned

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89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: House

District: 23B

Elected: 11/4/2014

Residence: Vernon Center

Term of Office: 1/5/2015 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/6/2015

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Waseca, Watonwan

Occupation: Retired 32-year Peace Officer

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment & Natural Resources Policy & Finance Minutes
Mining & Outdoor Recreation Policy Minutes
Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy & Finance (Chair) Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: House

District: 23B

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Vernon Center

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Waseca, Watonwan

Occupation: Retired 32-year peace officer

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Judiciary Finance and Policy Minutes
Public Safety Finance and Policy Minutes

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: House

District: 24B

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Good Thunder

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

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Faribault, Waseca

Occupation: Chief of Police, Lake Crystal

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance: Legacy Funding Division Minutes
Judiciary Policy and Finance Minutes
Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance (Chair) Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes [He was a member until February 22, 2011.]

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2009

Body: House

District: 24B

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: Good Thunder

Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/6/2009

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Faribault, Waseca

Occupation: Retired Game Warden/Chief of Police, Lake Crystal

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment Policy and Oversight Minutes
Environment Policy and Oversight: Game, Fish and Forestry Division Minutes
Finance: Public Safety Finance Division Minutes
Public Safety Policy and Oversight Minutes

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2007

Body: House

District: 24B

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Good Thunder

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Faribault, Waseca

Occupation: Retired Game Warden/Chief of Police, Lake Crystal

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources: Game, Fish and Forestry Division Minutes
Finance Minutes
Finance: Public Safety Finance Division Minutes
Public Safety and Civil Justice Minutes

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Whip

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: House

District: 24B

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Good Thunder

Term of Office: 1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/4/2005

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Faribault, Waseca

Occupation: Retired Peace Officer

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
Local Government Minutes
Public Safety Policy and Finance Minutes

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: House

District: 24B

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Good Thunder

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Faribault, Waseca

Occupation: Conservation Officer, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture Policy Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
State Government Finance Minutes

Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Whip

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Lonergan, Tom. "Trading Places: Cornish, Former Lobbyist and Conservation Officer, Hopes He Can Help Link Agriculture and Environment Concerns." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 21, 2003, p. 19.

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

2003 (24B)

2004 (24B)

2005 (24B)

2006 (24B)

2007 (24B)

2008 (24B)

2009 (24B)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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