71st Minnesota Legislature
# 71st Minnesota Legislature

The seventy-first Minnesota Legislature first convened on January 3, 1979. The 67 members of the Minnesota Senate were elected during the General Election of November 2, 1976, and the 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election of November 7, 1978.

The seventy-first legislature is noteworthy for the partisan composition of the House of Representatives. Until Bob Pavlak was unseated for unfair campaign practices, the House was equally divided between the DFL and the Independent-Republicans. Due to the tie, the DFL and the Independent-Republicans were forced to forge a compromise by which the Independent-Republicans were to elect the Speaker from among their own ranks, while the DFL would be given the chairmanship of, and one-vote majorities on, the rules and tax committees. This agreement was superseded for the 1980 continuation of the regular session, by which time the DFL had gained a slim majority in the House.

## Sessions

The legislature met in a regular session from January 3, 1979, to May 24, 1979. A special session was convened on May 24, 1979, to consider three bills regarding workers' compensation, energy, and transportation appropriations.

A continuation of the regular session was held between January 22, 1980, and April 12, 1980. No special sessions were held in 1980. The legislature met for a total of 99 legislative days during the 1979-80 biennium.

## Party summary

    Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Membership changes" section, below.

### Senate

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | DFL | IR | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 47 | 20 | 67 | 0 |
| Begin | 47 | 20 | 67 | 0 |
| April 25, 1979 | 46 | 20 | 66 | 1 |
| July 9, 1979 | 47 | 20 | 67 | 0 |
| August 1, 1979 | 46 | 20 | 66 | 1 |
| November 12, 1979 | 47 | 20 | 67 | 0 |
| November 26, 1979 | 46 | 20 | 66 | 1 |
| January 16, 1980 | 46 | 21 | 67 | 0 |
| January 20, 1980 | 45 | 21 | 66 | 1 |
| February 28, 1980 | 45 | 22 | 67 | 0 |
| May 1, 1980 | 44 | 22 | 66 | 1 |
| July 1, 1980 | 44 | 21 | 65 | 2 |
| Latest voting share | 68% | 32% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 45 | 22 | 67 | 0 |

### House of Representatives

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | DFL | IR | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 99 | 35 | 134 | 0 |
| Begin | 67 | 67 | 134 | 0 |
| May 18, 1979 | 67 | 66 | 133 | 1 |
| June 26, 1979 | 68 | 66 | 134 | 0 |
| December 5, 1979 | 67 | 66 | 133 | 1 |
| January 22, 1980 | 68 | 66 | 134 | 0 |
| June 1, 1980 | 67 | 66 | 133 | 1 |
| Latest voting share | 50% | 50% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 70 | 64 | 134 | 0 |

## Leadership

### Senate

**President of the Senate**


    Edward J. Gearty (DFL-Minneapolis)

**Senate Majority Leader**


    Nick Coleman (DFL-St. Paul)

**Senate Minority Leader**


    Robert O. Ashbach (IR-St. Paul)

### House of Representatives

**Speaker of the House**


    1979: Rod Searle (IR-Waseca)
    1980: Fred C. Norton (DFL-St. Paul)

**House Majority Leader**


    1979: Irv Anderson (DFL-International Falls) and Jerry Knickerbocker (IR-Minnetonka)
    1980: Irv Anderson (DFL-International Falls)

**House Minority Leader**


    1979: None
    1980: Rod Searle (IR-Waseca)

## Members

### Senate

| Name | District | City | Party |
| - | - | - | - |
| Anderson, Jerald C. | 19 | North Branch | DFL |
| Ashbach, Robert O. | 48 | St. Paul | IR |
| Bang, Otto T. | 39 | Edina | IR |
| Barrette, Emery G. | 66 | St. Paul | IR |
| Benedict, Robert M. | 38 | Bloomington | DFL |
| Bernhagen, John | 22 | Hutchinson | IR |
| Brataas, Nancy | 33 | Rochester | IR |
| Chenoweth, John C. | 66 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Chmielewski, Florian | 14 | Sturgeon Lake | DFL |
| Coleman, Nicholas D. | 65 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Davies, John T. | 60 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Dieterich, Neil | 62 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Dunn, Robert G. | 18 | Princeton | IR |
| Engler, Steven | 25 | Randolph | IR |
| Frederick, Mel | 32 | West Concord | IR |
| Gearty, Edward J. | 54 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Gunderson, Jerome O. | 35 | Mabel | DFL |
| Hanson, Marv | 01 | Hallock | DFL |
| Hughes, Jerome M. | 50 | Maplewood | DFL |
| Humphrey, Skip | 44 | New Hope | DFL |
| Jensen, Carl A. | 28 | Sleepy Eye | IR |
| Johnson, Doug | 06 | Tower | DFL |
| Keefe, John B. | 40 | Hopkins | IR |
| Keefe, Stephen | 59 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Kirchner, William G. | 37 | Richfield | IR |
| Kleinbaum, Jack I. | 17 | St. Cloud | DFL |
| Knaak, Delores J. | 49 | White Bear Lake | IR |
| Knoll, Franklin J. | 61 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Knutson, Howard A. | 53 | Burnsville | IR |
| Laufenburger, Roger A. | 34 | Lewiston | DFL |
| Lessard, Bob | 03 | International Falls | DFL |
| Lewis, B. Robert | 41 | Golden Valley | DFL |
| Luther, Bill | 45 | Brooklyn Park | DFL |
| McCutcheon, William W. | 67 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Menning, Mike | 26 | Edgerton | DFL |
| Merriam, Gene | 47 | Coon Rapids | DFL |
| Moe, Roger | 02 | Ada | DFL |
| Nelson, Tom A. | 31 | Austin | DFL |
| Nichols, James W. | 20 | Lake Benton | DFL |
| Ogdahl, Harmon T. | 58 | Minneapolis | IR |
| Olhoft, Wayne | 11 | Herman | DFL |
| Olson, Howard D. | 27 | St. James | DFL |
| Omann, Sr., Bernard P. | 16 | St. Joseph | IR |
| Penny, Tim | 30 | New Richland | DFL |
| Perpich, George F. | 05 | Chisholm | DFL |
| Peterson, Collin Clark | 10 | Detroit Lakes | DFL |
| Pillsbury, George Sturgis | 42 | Wayzata | IR |
| Purfeerst, Clarence | 24 | Faribault | DFL |
| Renneke, Earl | 23 | Le Sueur | IR |
| Rued, David E. | 13 | Aitkin | IR |
| Schaaf, David D. | 46 | Fridley | DFL |
| Schmitz, Robert J. | 36 | Jordan | DFL |
| Schrom, Ed | 16 | Albany | DFL |
| Setzepfandt, A. O.H. | 21 | Bird Island | DFL |
| Sieloff, Ron | 63 | St. Paul | IR |
| Sikorski, Gerry | 51 | Stillwater | DFL |
| Sillers, Douglas H. | 09 | Moorhead | IR |
| Solon, Sam | 07 | Duluth | DFL |
| Spear, Allan | 57 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Staples, Emily Anne | 43 | Plymouth | DFL |
| Stern, Irving M. | 41 | St. Louis Park | DFL |
| Stokowski, Anne K. | 55 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Stokowski, Eugene E. | 55 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Strand, Roger Ernest | 15 | Cyrus | DFL |
| Stumpf, Jr., Peter P. | 64 | St. Paul | DFL |
| Tennessen, Robert J. | 56 | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Ueland, Arnulf | 29 | North Mankato | IR |
| Ulland, James E. | 08 | Duluth | IR |
| Vega, Conrad | 52 | South St. Paul | DFL |
| Wegener, Myrton O. | 12 | Bertha | DFL |
| Willet, Gerald | 04 | Park Rapids | DFL |

### House of Representatives

| Name | District | City | Party |
| - | - | - | - |
| Aasness, Paul D. | 11A | Wendell | IR |
| Adams, Leo G. | 44B | New Hope | DFL |
| Ainley, Jr., John A. | 04A | Park Rapids | IR |
| Albrecht, Raymond John | 23A | Brownton | IR |
| Anderson, Bob | 10B | Ottertail | IR |
| Anderson, Bruce W. | 26A | Slayton | DFL |
| Anderson, Delbert F. | 15A | Starbuck | IR |
| Anderson, Glen H. | 15B | Bellingham | DFL |
| Anderson, Irvin N. | 03A | International Falls | DFL |
| Battaglia, David Peter | 06B | Two Harbors | DFL |
| Begich, Joseph | 06A | Eveleth | DFL |
| Berglin, Linda Lee | 59A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Berkelman, Thomas R. | 08B | Duluth | DFL |
| Biersdorf, John S. | 32A | Owatonna | IR |
| Blatz, Kathleen | 38A | Bloomington | IR |
| Brinkman, Bernard J. | 16B | Richmond | DFL |
| Byrne, Margaret Mary | 64B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Carlson, Doug | 14A | Sandstone | IR |
| Carlson, Lyndon | 44A | Crystal | DFL |
| Casserly, James R. | 56A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Clark, Janet H. | 60A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Clawson, John T. | 19A | Center City | DFL |
| Corbid, John R. | 01B | Oklee | DFL |
| Crandall, William A. | 61A | Minneapolis | IR |
| Dean, William D. | 58A | Minneapolis | IR |
| Dempsey, Terry | 28B | New Ulm | IR |
| Den Ouden, Gaylin | 21B | Prinsburg | IR |
| Drew, John | 63B | St. Paul | IR |
| Eken, Willis | 02B | Twin Valley | DFL |
| Elioff, Dominic J. | 05A | Virginia | DFL |
| Ellingson, Robert L. | 45B | Brooklyn Center | DFL |
| Enebo, Stanley A. | 60B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Erickson, Wendell O. | 26B | Hills | IR |
| Esau, Gilbert D. | 28A | Mountain Lake | IR |
| Evans, James | 10A | Detroit Lakes | IR |
| Ewald, Douglas R. | 40A | Minnetonka | IR |
| Faricy, Ray W. | 63A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Fjoslien, David O. | 11B | Brandon | IR |
| Forsythe, Mary | 39A | Edina | IR |
| Friedrich, Donald L. | 32B | Rochester | IR |
| Fritz, Michael D. | 62B | St. Paul | IR |
| Fudro, Stanley J. | 55A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Greenfield, Lee | 57B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Halberg, Chuck | 53B | Burnsville | IR |
| Haukoos, Bob | 31A | Albert Lea | IR |
| Heap, Jim | 43B | Robbinsdale | IR |
| Heinitz, Orlando Jacob | 43A | Plymouth | IR |
| Hoberg, Dwaine | 09A | Moorhead | IR |
| Hokanson, Shirley A. | 37A | Richfield | DFL |
| Jacobs, Joel | 47A | Coon Rapids | DFL |
| Jaros, Mike | 07B | Duluth | DFL |
| Jennings, David M. | 27B | Truman | IR |
| Johnson, Carl M. | 23B | St. Peter | DFL |
| Johnson, Dean | 21A | Willmar | IR |
| Jude, Tad | 42A | Mound | DFL |
| Kahn, Phyllis | 57A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Kaley, John R. | 33A | Rochester | IR |
| Kalis, Henry | 30A | Walters | DFL |
| Kelly, Randy | 66B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Kempe, Raymond J. | 53A | West St. Paul | DFL |
| Knickerbocker, Jerry | 40B | Minnetonka | IR |
| Kostohryz, Dick | 50B | North St. Paul | DFL |
| Kroening, Carl W. | 54A | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Laidig, Gary | 51A | Stillwater | IR |
| Lehto, Arlene Ione | 08A | Duluth | DFL |
| Kvam, Adolph Leonard | 22A | Litchfield | IR |
| Levi, Connie | 50A | Dellwood | IR |
| Long, Dee | 56B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Ludeman, Cal | 20B | Tracy | IR |
| Luknic, Marsha Johnson | 24B | Faribault | IR |
| Mann, George | 27A | Windom | DFL |
| McCarron, Paul | 46A | Spring Lake Park | DFL |
| McDonald, K. J. | 36A | Watertown | IR |
| McEachern, Bob | 18B | St. Michael | DFL |
| Mehrkens, Lyle | 25B | Red Wing | IR |
| Metzen, James P. | 52A | South St. Paul | DFL |
| Minne, Lona | 05B | Hibbing | DFL |
| Moe, Donald M. | 65B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Munger, Willard | 07A | Duluth | DFL |
| Murphy, Mary | 14B | Hermantown | DFL |
| Nelsen, Bruce G. | 12A | Staples | IR |
| Nelsen, Marlin B. | 13B | Aitkin | DFL |
| Nelson, Ken | 59B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Niehaus, Sr., Joseph T. | 16A | Sauk Centre | IR |
| Norman, Jim | 61B | Minneapolis | IR |
| Norton, Fred C. | 65A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Novak, Steve | 48A | New Brighton | DFL |
| Nysether, Myron E. | 01A | Roseau | IR |
| Olsen, Sally | 41A | Saint Louis Park | IR |
| Onnen, Tony | 22B | Cokato | IR |
| Osthoff, C. Thomas | 64A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Otis, Todd | 58B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Patton, Al W. | 17A | Sartell | DFL |
| Pavlak, Sr., Robert L. | 67A | St. Paul | IR |
| Pehler, James C. | 17B | St. Cloud | DFL |
| Peterson, Bill | 38B | Bloomington | IR |
| Peterson, Donna C. | 60B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Piepho, Mark J. | 29A | Mankato | IR |
| Pleasant, Ray O. | 39B | Bloomington | IR |
| Prahl, Norman Rudolph | 03B | Grand Rapids | DFL |
| Redalen, Elton | 35A | Fountain | IR |
| Reding, Leo John | 31B | Austin | DFL |
| Rees, Tom | 36B | Elko | IR |
| Reif, Robert W. | 49B | White Bear Lake | IR |
| Rice, Jim | 54B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Rodriguez, Frank J. | 67A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Rose, John | 48B | Roseville | IR |
| Rothenberg, Elliot C. | 41B | St. Louis Park | IR |
| Sarna, John | 55B | Minneapolis | DFL |
| Schreiber, Bill | 45A | Brooklyn Park | IR |
| Searle, Rodney Newell | 30B | Waseca | IR |
| Searles, Robert L. | 42B | Wayzata | IR |
| Sherwood, Glen A. | 04B | Pine River | IR |
| Sieben, Harry A. | 52B | Hastings | DFL |
| Sieben, Michael R. | 51B | Newport | DFL |
| Simoneau, Wayne | 46B | Fridley | DFL |
| Stadum, Tony | 02A | Ada | IR |
| Stoa, Tom | 34B | Winona | DFL |
| Stowell, Warren | 34A | Lewiston | IR |
| Sviggum, Steve | 25A | Kenyon | IR |
| Swanson, James C. | 37B | Richfield | DFL |
| Thiede, Paul M. | 13A | Pequot Lakes | IR |
| Tomlinson, John D. | 67B | St. Paul | DFL |
| Valan, Merlyn Orville | 09B | Moorhead | IR |
| Valento, Don | 49A | Little Canada | IR |
| Vanasek, Robert | 24A | New Prague | DFL |
| Voss, Gordon | 47B | Blaine | DFL |
| Waldorf, Eugene T. | 66A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Weaver, John L. | 19B | Anoka | IR |
| Welch, Richard J. | 18A | Cambridge | DFL |
| Welker, Ray | 20A | Montevideo | IR |
| Wenzel, Steve | 12B | Little Falls | DFL |
| Wieser, Jr., Al W. | 35B | La Crescent | IR |
| Wigley, Richard E. | 29B | Lake Crystal | IR |
| Wynia, Ann | 62A | St. Paul | DFL |
| Zubay, Kenneth Peter | 33B | Rochester | IR |

## Membership changes

### Senate

| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 41 | B. Robert Lewis (DFL) | Died of a heart attack on April 25, 1979. | Irving M. Stern (DFL) | July 9, 1979 |
| 55 | Eugene E. Stokowski (DFL) | Died of a heart attack on August 1, 1979. | Anne K. Stokowski (DFL) | November 12, 1979 |
| 66 | John C. Chenoweth (DFL) | Resigned on November 26, 1979, to become the Director of the Minneapolis Municipal Employees Retirement Fund. | Emery G. Barrette (IR) | January 16, 1980 |
| 16 | Ed Schrom (DFL) | Died on January 20, 1980. | Ben Omann (IR) | February 28, 1980 |
| 67 | William W. McCutcheon (DFL) | Resigned on May 1, 1980, to accept appointment as Chief of the SPPD. | Remained vacant | Remained vacant |
| 18 | Robert G. Dunn (IR) | Resigned on July 1, 1980, to accept appointment as the Chair of the Minnesota Waste Management Board. | Remained vacant | Remained vacant |

### House of Representatives

| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 67A | Bob Pavlak (IR) | Expelled on May 18, 1979, on charges of unfair campaign practices. | Frank J. Rodriguez Sr. (DFL) | June 26, 1979 |
| 60B | Stanley A. Enebo (DFL) | Resigned on December 5, 1979, to become the Associate Director of the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association. | Donna C. Peterson (DFL) | January 22, 1980 |
| 44B | Leo G. Adams (DFL) | Resigned to accept appointment to the Minnesota Public Service Commission circa June 1, 1980. | Remained vacant | Remained vacant |
