Capitol View: December 28, 2010 Archive

New GOP House members, vol. 1

Posted at 10:03 AM on December 28, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: 2011 Freshman class, MN Legislature

There will be a lot of new faces at the State Capitol next week when the 2011 Legislative session begins.

In the Minnesota House, Republicans now have a 72 to 62 majority. There are 33 new GOP representatives. Over the next few days, Capitol View will highlight the new House members. Here's the first bunch:

Representative-elect Diane Anderson, R-Eagan, District 38A
Election: Defeated incumbent Rep. Sandra Masin, DFL-Eagan
Family: Married, two children
Occupation: Small-business owner
Education: BS, University of Minnesota

Representative-elect King Banaian, R-St. Cloud, District 15B
Election: Defeated DFL candidate Carol Lewis to replace retiring Rep. Larry Haws, DFL-St. Cloud
Occupation: Economist
Education: MA, PhD Claremont Graduate School

Representative-elect Bob Barrett R-Shafer, District 17B
Election: Defeated DFL candidate Cindy Erickson to replace retiring Rep. Jeremy Kalin, DFL-North Branch
Family: Married two children
Occupation: Business
Education: BS, Minnesota State University-Mankato

Representative-elect Mike Benson, R-Rochester, District 30B
Election: Defeated incumbent Rep. Andy Welti, DFL-Plainview
Family: Married, four children
Occupation: Asst. College professor and human resources director
Education: BA, MBA Eastern University

Representative-elect Kurt Bills, R-Rosemount, District 37B
Election: Defeated incumbent Rep. Phil Sterner, DFL-Rosemount
Family: Married, four children
Occupation: Teacher, small-business owner
Education: BS. MA Winona State University

Representative-elect Roger Crawford, R-Mora, District 8B
Election: Defeated incumbent Rep. Tim Faust, DFL-Hinckley
Family: Married, four children
Occupation: Small-business owner
Education: BA, BS St. Cloud State University

Representative-elect Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, District 17A
Election: Defeated DFL candidate Jim Godfrey to replace retiring Rep. Rob Eastlund, R-Isanti
Family: Single
Occupation: Business manager

Representative-elect Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, District 16A
Election: Defeated incumbent Rep. Gail Kulick Jackson, DFL-Milaca, to win back seat lost in 2008.
Family: Widowed, one child
Occupation: Retired teacher
Education: BA, Concordia College

Representative-elect Dan Fabian, R-Roseau, District 1A
Election: Defeated incumbent Rep. Dave Olin, DFL-Thief River Falls
Family: Married, three children
Occupation: Teacher, insurance adjuster
Education: BA, Concordia College; MA, North Dakota State University

Representative-elect Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, District 11B
Election: Defeated DFL candidate Amy Hunter to replace retiring Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba, DFL-Long Prairie
Family: Married, four children
Occupation: Licensed childcare provider
Education: BA, University of Minnesota-Duluth

Representative-elect Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, District 25A
Election: Defeated DFL candidate Mick McGuire to replace retiring Rep. Laura Brod, R-New Prague
Family: Married, three children
Occupation: Small business owner
Education: American College

(Photos courtesy of the Minnesota House)