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    Cox, Raymond R. "Ray"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2003-2006 (District 25B)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Rice, Scott

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/26/1951
    Birth Place: Stockton, California
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 11/3/2017
    Gender: Male
    Religion: United Church of Christ
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Ray
    City of Residence (when first elected): Northfield
    Occupation (when first elected): Trades; Owner, Construction Company

    EDUCATION

    Northfield High School; Secondary;
    St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota; B.A.; 1973; Biology

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Board/Commission: Northfield, Minnesota (City Planning Commission, 5 years); [Dates Unknown]
    School Board/Administration: Northfield, Minnesota (School Board, Chair, 15 years); 19?? to ?

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Ellen
    Children: Three children: Tristan (son), Marja and Diana (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Edwin Cox  - Great Grandfather

    GENERAL NOTES

    He ran unsuccessfully as the Republican Party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 2006 election. His opponent, David Bly, defeated him by so few votes that an automatic recount occurred. The recount confirmed that David Bly had won, by 60 votes.

    He ran unsuccessfully as the Republican endorsed candidate for the 2008 special election for the Minnesota Senate seat vacated by Sen. Thomas Neuville.

    His grandfather, W.T. Cox was the first Commissioner of the agency that became the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

    His mother, Marjorie Cox, was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives prior to his running.

    His funeral service was held November 25th at First United Church of Christ in Northfield, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by the 2006 WCCO TV Voters' Guide.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 1456

    SESSIONS SERVED

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/2005
    Body: House
    District: 25B
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Northfield
    Term of Office: 1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006
    Oath Date: 1/4/2005
    Counties Represented: Rice, Scott
    Occupation: Trades; Owner, Northfield Construction Company
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
    term photo
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    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/2003
    Body: House
    District: 25B
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Northfield
    Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
    Oath Date: 1/7/2003
    Counties Represented: Rice, Scott
    Occupation: Trades; Owner, Construction Company
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
    • Higher Education Finance Minutes
    • Regulated Industries Minutes
    Session Notes: His margin of victory over David Bly was only 20 votes so an automatic recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 46 votes.
    term photo
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    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    Session Interviews

    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 (25B)
    2004 (25B)
    2005 (25B)
    2006 (25B)
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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