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Laidig, Gary W.

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1973-82 (District 57A): Senate 1983-92 (District 55); Senate 1993-2000 (District 56)

Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Counties Served: Washington

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 8/15/1948

Birth Place: York, Pennsylvania

Birth County:

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Methodist

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Bayport

Occupation (when first elected): Student

EDUCATION

Minnetonka High School; Secondary; Graduate
University of Minnesota; Attended College;
Morningside College; Attended College;
University of Wisconsin, River Falls; Attended College; Pre-Law

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

County Board/Commissioner: Washington County, Minnesota (County Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee); 19?? to 19??

Military: United States Marine Corps (South Vietnam); 1968 to 1970

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Paula
Children: Two children: Meghan and Sean
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: taxes, environment, economic development, small business.

He was a member of the Republican Party.

Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

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Total Days Served: 10228

SESSIONS SERVED

81st Legislative Session (1999-2000) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 56

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Crime Prevention
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources/Agriculture and Rural Development/State Government Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
Judiciary/Crime Prevention/Human Resources Finance: Crime Prevention and Judiciary Budget Division
Rules and Administration
State Government Finance
Transportation

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 56

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Crime Prevention
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources/Agriculture and Rural Development/State Government Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
Judiciary/Crime Prevention/Human Resources Finance: Crime Prevention and Judiciary Budget Division
Rules and Administration
State Government Finance
Transportation

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79th Legislative Session (1995-1996) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 56

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Independent Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Crime Prevention
Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention Finance Division
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Ethics and Campaign Reform
Finance
Finance: Capital Budget
Rules and Administration

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 56

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Crime Prevention
Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention Finance Division
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Ethics and Campaign Reform
Finance
Rules and Administration

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Elections and Ethics
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Finance
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Division
Judiciary
Judiciary: Criminal Justice System Oversight
Judiciary: Criminal Law Division
Metropolitan Affairs
Rules and Administration

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Elections and Ethics
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
Judiciary
Judiciary: Civil Law Division
Rules and Administration
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids Division
Veterans and Military Affairs

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Elections and Ethics
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
Judiciary
Judiciary: Criminal Law Division
Rules and Administration
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
Veterans

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
Economic Development and Commerce
Economic Development and Commerce: Consumer Protection
Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance
Rules and Administration
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
Transportation
Transportation: Transit

Leadership Position: Minority Whip

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 55

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
Economic Development and Commerce
Economic Development and Commerce: Consumer Protection
Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
Transportation
Transportation: Transit

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 51A

Elected: 11/4/1980

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: State Departments Division
Local and Urban Affairs
Local and Urban Affairs: Economic Development
Local and Urban Affairs: Local Government Financing
Reapportionment and Elections
Reapportionment and Elections: Election Laws

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71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 51A

Elected: 11/7/1978

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Semi-State Division
Appropriations: State Departments Division
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement and Corrections (Chair)
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Elections and Campaign Practices
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: General Law and Veterans Affairs
Rules and Legislative Administration

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 51A

Elected: 11/2/1976

Residence: Stillwater

Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Student

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: State Departments Division
Criminal Justice
Higher Education

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69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 51A

Elected: 11/5/1974

Residence: Bayport

Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Pre-Law Student

Party: Republican

Committees:

Agriculture
Crime Prevention and Corrections
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 51A

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: Bayport

Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975

Counties Represented: Washington

Occupation: Student

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Crime Prevention and Corrections
Education
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Health and Welfare

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OTHER INFORMATION

Senate Photos

The photos in this collection were scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

Senator Gary Laidig, Senator Donald Storm, and Senator Dean Johnson confer during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Archive Collections
Gary Laidig Papers, 1973-1982 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections

District Files

District File - 2000 District 56
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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

Legislators Past & Present Home

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