Pariseau, Patricia "Pat"
Senate 1989-2002 (District 37); Senate 2003-2010 (District 36)
Party when first elected: Independent Republican
Counties Served:
Dakota, Goodhue, Scott, Washington
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
8/10/1936
Birth Place:
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Birth County:
Ramsey
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
11/13/2020
Gender:
Female
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Pat
City of Residence (when first elected):
Farmington
Occupation (when first elected):
U.S. Senate Aide/Farm Wife
EDUCATION
Johnson High School; Secondary;
Ravenswood Hospital School of Nursing, Chicago; R.N.;
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission:
United States Senate (Aide for United States Senator Rudy Boschwitz in His St. Paul Office);
19?? to 19??
School Board/Administration:
Farmington, Minnesota (School Board Member);
19?? to 19??
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Kenneth "Ken" (he died while she was still in office, no longer listed in 2006); Widow
Children:
Six children
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: taxes, health issues, agriculture, business and jobs, environment and sporting issues, airport planning, natural resources, corrections.
She is known for her efforts with the high-profile concealed carry gun permit bill.
Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Retired Registered Nurse
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters
-
Finance
-
Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division
-
Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division
-
Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Natural Resources
-
Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Parks and Trails Legacy
-
Judiciary
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Retired Registered Nurse
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters
-
Finance
-
Finance: Economic Development Budget Division
-
Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division
-
Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Natural Resources
-
Judiciary
[She served in 2008 only.]
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Business Owner/Farm Wife
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Elections
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Game and Fish
-
Finance
-
Finance: Environment, Agriculture and Economic Development Budget Division
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Elections
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Body: Senate
District: 36
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Business Owner/Farm Wife
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Game and Fish
-
Finance
-
Finance: Environment, Agriculture and Economic Development Budget Division
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Body: Senate
District: 37
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue, Scott
Occupation: Business Owner/Farm Wife
Party:
Republican
Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
-
Finance
-
Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
-
Health and Family Security
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Telecommunications, Energy and Utilities
Body: Senate
District: 37
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue, Scott
Occupation: Business Owner/Farm Wife
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources/Agriculture and Rural Development/State Government Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Housing and Economic Development
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Telecommunications and Technology
-
Local and Metropolitan Government
-
Taxes
-
Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division
Body: Senate
District: 37
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue, Scott
Occupation: Business/Farm Wife
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources/Agriculture and Rural Development/State Government Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Housing and Economic Development
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Telecommunications and Technology
-
Local and Metropolitan Government
-
Taxes
-
Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division
Body: Senate
District: 37
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue, Scott
Occupation: Farm Wife/Business Owner
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
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
-
Metropolitan and Local Government
-
Metropolitan and Local Government: Intergovernmental Relations
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax
Body: Senate
District: 37
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue, Scott
Occupation: Farm Wife/Legislator
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
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
-
Metropolitan and Local Government
-
Metropolitan and Local Government: Intergovernmental Relations
-
Metropolitan and Local Government: Metropolitan and Local Government Tax Division
-
Rules and Administration
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax
Leadership Position:
Assistant Minority Leader
Body: Senate
District: 37
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Washington
Occupation: Farm Wife/Legislator
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
-
Governmental Operations
-
Metropolitan Affairs
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income, Sales, and Economic Development Division
-
Veterans and General Legislation
Leadership Position:
Assistant Minority Leader
Body: Senate
District: 37
Elected: 11/8/1988
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
(Special Election)
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Washington
Occupation: U.S. Senate Aide/Farm Wife
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
-
Governmental Operations
-
Local and Urban Government
-
Local and Urban Government: Metropolitan Government
-
Veterans and Military Affairs
Session Notes:
She won the Senate special election held due to the resignation of Darril Wegscheid. She was sworn in on January 3, 1989.
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.
Articles & Books About
Johnson, Tad. "Longtime Farmington Area Sen. Pat Pariseau Dies." Sun This Week, November 17, 2020.
Pinney, Gregor W. "Rose's Death Creates Campaign Quandry." Star Tribune, July 21, 1988.
District Files
District File - 2000 District 37
District File - 2002 District 37
District File - 2001 District 37
District File - 2003 District 36
District File - 2004 District 36
District File - 2005 District 36
District File - 2006 District 36
District File - 2007 District 36
District File - 2008 District 36
District File - 2009 District 36
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.