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Gazelka, Paul E.

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2005-2006 (District 12A); Senate 2011-2012 (District 12); Senate 2013-2022 (District 9)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 10/1/1959

Birth Place: St. Paul, Minnesota

Birth County: Ramsey

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Christian

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Brainerd

Occupation (when first elected): Business, Insurance Agent and Manager

EDUCATION

Roosevelt High School, Virginia; Secondary;
University of Minnesota, Duluth; Attended College;
Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma; B.S.; Business Management

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

School Board/Administration: Minnesota (School Board, Chair); [Dates Unknown]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Maralee (married around 1982)
Children: Five children: Jessica, Genna, Emily, Joshua, and Lydia

Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He ran and won as the Republican Party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota Senate in the 2010 primary election against Paul Koering.

He announced he would resign as Majority Leader in September of 2021. He was a candidate to run for Governor of Minnesota in 2022, but withdrew.

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

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Total Days Served: 5110

SESSIONS SERVED

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: Senate

District: 09

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: East Gull Lake

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Occupation: Business Owner

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2021 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2021 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Rules and Administration (Chair) [He was chair in 2021 only.]
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Committees (Chair)
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Conference Committees (Chair)
Taxes [He was a member in 2022 only.]

Leadership Position: Majority Leader - He announced on September 1, 2021 that he will resign as Majority Leader.

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: Senate

District: 09

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Nisswa

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Occupation: Business owner

Party: Republican

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 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
2020 3rd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 3rd Sp.S. - Author
2020 4th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 4th 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
2020 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Rules and Administration (Chair)
Taxes

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: Senate

District: 09

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Nisswa

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Occupation: Business Owner, Paul Gazelka Insurance Agency Inc.

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2017 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2017 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Rules and Administration (Chair)
Taxes

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: Senate

District: 09

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Nisswa

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Occupation: Business Owner, Paul Gazelka Insurance Agency Inc.

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce
Finance: State Departments and Veterans Budget Division
Finance: Veterans and Military Affairs Subdivision
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Personnel and Budget Subcommittee
Taxes
Taxes: Tax Reform Division

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: Senate

District: 09

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Nisswa

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Occupation: Business Owner, Paul Gazelka Insurance Agency Inc.

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce
Finance: State Departments and Veterans Division
Rules and Administration
Taxes: Tax Reform Division

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader - He was named Assistant Minority Leader on February 24, 2014.

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: Senate

District: 12

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Brainerd

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

Counties Represented: Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Business Owner, Paul Gazelka Insurance Agency, Inc., State Farm Insurance

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Environment and Natural Resources
State Government Innovation and Veterans
Transportation

Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader - He was selected for this position by the Republican caucus on December 27, 2011.

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: House

District: 12A

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Brainerd

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

Counties Represented: Crow Wing

Occupation: Business, Insurance Agent and Manager

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Commerce and Financial Institutions Minutes
Commerce and Financial Institutions: Tourism Division Minutes
Jobs and Economic Opportunity Policy and Finance Minutes
Transportation Minutes

Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Dunn, Ruth. "Strong Family Ties: The Gazelka Family Goes to St. Paul." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 28, 2005, p. 15.

Session Interviews

House Interview 2005 (Video)

Articles & Books By

Gazelka, Paul. "Marketplace Ministers: Awakening God's People in the Workplace to Their Ultimate Purpose." Florida: Creation House, Strang Communications Company, 2003.

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

2005 (12A)

2006 (12A)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Paul Gazelka and Susan Kent discuss senate business during a floor session. Paul Gazelka is a Republican from East Gull Lake and Susan Kent is a Democrat from Woodbury. 4/25/2022. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.

Tom Bakk and Paul Gazelka converse on the Senate Floor during session. Tom Bakk is a Democrat from Cook and Paul Gazelka is a Republican from Nisswa. 5/14/2018. Photo credit: David Oakes, Senate Media Services.

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