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Lessard, Bob B.

Sessions Served  red ball graphic  Other Information

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Map of International Falls
International Falls, MN

Senate 1977-2002 (District 3)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Aitkin, Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 05/18/1931 Date of Death: 
Birth Place:  Birth County:  Birth Country:
Other Names:
Gender:  Male Religion:  Not Reported
City of Residence (when first elected):  International Falls

Occupation (when first elected):  Operator, Viking Cruises (Hunting, Fishing and Scenic Cruise Operation on Rainy Lake)

EDUCATION

International Falls High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1949

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/CouncilMinnesota Iron Range Resoures and Rehabilitation Board (Vice-Chair) ??/??/19?? to ??/??/????
MilitaryUnited States Army Intelligence, Security Agency (Korean War/Conflict) ??/??/1951 to ??/??/1954
State AgencyMinnesota Department of Natural Resources (Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Community Outreach) 02/??/2011 to ??/??/20??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Married: Toni Lynn (no longer listed in 1994)
Children: Five children: Shawn, Wendy, Brett, Sean, Kelly
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: environment and natural resources, human services, transportation and infrastructure, labor and small business, elderly/senior citizens, rules, highways, energy, veterans affairs.

He was raised in International Falls, Minnesota.

He was an unsuccessful write-in candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1974 election.

Legislative Session: 82nd (2001-2002)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/7/2000 Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis
Occupation: Small Business, Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Independence Party Notes: He ran as an Independent, but joined the Independence Party on Jan. 3, 2001. He did not caucus with either the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party or the Republican party.
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  
Committees:
Commerce
Commerce Subcommittee: Banking
Commerce Subcommittee: Consumer Protection and Regulated Industries
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Fish and Wildlife
Taxes
Taxes Subcommittee: Income and Sales Tax Budget Division
Telecommunications, Energy and Utilities
Legislative Session: 81st (1999-2000) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/5/1996 Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis
Occupation: Small Business, Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Notes: He switched to Independent status on July 18, 2000. After his party status switch he did not caucus with either the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party or the Republican party.
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
Agriculture and Rural Development
Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
Environment and Natural Resources/Agriculture and Rural Development/State Government Finance Subcommittee: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
Local and Metropolitan Government
Rules and Administration
State Government Finance
Legislative Session: 80th (1997-1998)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/5/1996 Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis
Occupation: Small Business, Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
Agriculture and Rural Development
Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
Environment and Natural Resources/Agriculture and Rural Development/State Government Finance Subcommittee: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
Local and Metropolitan Government
Rules and Administration
State Government Finance
Legislative Session: 79th (1995-1996) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/3/1992 Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis
Occupation: Small Business, Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Environmental Protection
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Fish and Wildlife
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Public Lands and Waters
Gaming Regulation
Metropolitan and Local Government
Metropolitan and Local Government Subcommittee: Intergovernmental Relations
Rules and Administration
Legislative Session: 78th (1993-1994)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/3/1992 Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching, St. Louis
Occupation: Small Business: Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Environmental Protection
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Fish and Wildlife
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Public Lands and Waters
Metropolitan and Local Government
Metropolitan and Local Government Subcommittee: Intergovernmental Relations
Metropolitan and Local Government Subcommittee: Metropolitan and Local Government Tax Division
Rules and Administration
Veterans and General Legislation
Legislative Session: 77th (1991-1992)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/6/1990 Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Small Business: Fishing/Hunting/Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee: Joint Agriculture and Rural Development/Environment and Natural Resources Ad Hoc
Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Environmental Protection
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Fish and Wildlife
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Public Lands and Waters
Finance
Finance Subcommittee: Environment and Natural Resources Division
Local Government
Rules and Administration
Veterans and General Legislation
Legislative Session: 76th (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/4/1986 Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Fishing Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
Finance
Finance Subcommittee: State Departments Division
Local and Urban Government
Local and Urban Government Subcommittee: Land Use, Zoning and Planning
Rules and Administration
Veterans and Military Affairs
Session Notes: He was an ex officio member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee's Environmental Protection Subcommittee, Public Lands and Waters Subcommittee, and Fish and Wildlife Subcommittee.
Legislative Session: 75th (1987-1988)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/4/1986 Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Tourist Outfitter, Hunting and Fishing
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Fish and Wildlife
Finance
Finance Subcommittee: Agriculture/Transportation and Semi-States Division
General Legislation and Public Gaming
Rules and Administration
Veterans
Legislative Session: 74th (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/2/1982 Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Fish and Wildlife
Finance
Finance Subcommittee: Agriculture/Transportation/Semi-States
Rules and Administration
Veterans and General Legislation (Chair)
Legislative Session: 73rd (1983-1984)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/2/1982 Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Tourist Outfitter
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Fish and Wildlife
Finance
Finance Subcommittee: Agriculture/Transportation/Semi-States
Rules and Administration
Veterans and General Legislation (Chair)
Legislative Session: 72nd (1981-1982)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/4/1980 Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Operator, Viking Cruises (a Hunting, Fishing and Scenic Cruise Operation on Rainy Lake)
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Environmental Protection
Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Fish and Wildlife
Judiciary
Judiciary Subcommittee: Criminal Law
Judiciary Subcommittee: Judicial Administration (Chair)
Local Government and Urban Affairs
Transportation
Transportation Subcommittee: Rural and Commercial
Legislative Session: 71st (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/2/1976 Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Operator, Viking Cruises (a Hunting-Fishing and Scenic Operation on Rainy Lake)
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Fish and Wild Life
General Legislation and Administrative Rules
General Legislation and Administrative Rules Subcommittee: General Legislation (Chair)
Judiciary
Judiciary Subcommittee: Law Reform
Transportation
Transportation Subcommittee: Highways and Bridges
Transportation Subcommittee: Pipelines-1979
Transportation Subcommittee: Rural and Commercial Transportation
Veterans' Affairs
Session Notes: He became Chair of the General Legislation and Administrative Rules Committee's General Legislation Subcommittee after Ed Schrom died.
Legislative Session: 70th (1977-1978)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/2/1976 Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
District: 03 Residence: International Falls
Counties Represented: Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching
Occupation: Operator, Viking Cruises (Hunting, Fishing and Scenic Cruise Operation on Rainy Lake)
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Fish and Wildlife
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Judiciary
Judiciary Subcommittee: Law Reform
Transportation
Transportation Subcommittee: Public Transportation
Transportation Subcommittee: Transit

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About
Anderson, Dennis. "Like a Fox." Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 12, 2009, p. C1, C10.


Archive Collections
Bob Lessard Papers, 1970s-2002 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections.


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

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