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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.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5442

    SESSIONS SERVED

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23B
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Vernon Center
    Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 11/30/2017 (unfinished term)
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23B
    Elected: 11/4/2014
    Residence: Vernon Center
    Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
    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 & Finance Minutes
    • Mining & Outdoor Recreation Policy Minutes
    • Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy & Finance (Chair) Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23B
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Vernon Center
    Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 24B
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Good Thunder
    Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
    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.]
    term photo
    Click to view

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 24B
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Good Thunder
    Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 24B
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Good Thunder
    Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 24B
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Good Thunder
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 24B
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Good Thunder
    Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    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.



    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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