Swenson, Douglas G. "Doug"
House 1987-92 (District 55A); House 1993-98 (District 51B)
Party when first elected: Independent Republican
Counties Served:
Anoka, Washington
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
8/16/1945
Birth Place:
Saint Peter, Minnesota
Birth County:
Nicollet
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
2/1/2009
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Doug
City of Residence (when first elected):
Forest Lake
Occupation (when first elected):
Attorney
EDUCATION
Bethany Lutheran High School, Mankato; Secondary; Graduate, 1963
Gustavus Adolphus College; B.S.; Business Administration and Political Science
William Mitchell College of Law; J.D.; 1971
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
County Attorney:
Washington County, Minnesota (Senior Assistant County Attorney);
1975 to 19??
Judge:
10th Judicial District Court, Pine City, Minnesota (Appointed by Governor Arne Carlson);
12/19/1997 to ?
[Appointed]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Sandra "Sandie"
Children:
Two children: Gregory "Greg" (killed in a car accident in 1989 by an underage drunk driver), and Kirk (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Howard Swenson
- Brother
Oscar A. Swenson
- Grandfather
Swen Swenson
- Great Grandfather
Carl L. Swenson
- Great Uncle
Lars Swenson
- Great Great Uncle
GENERAL NOTES
He had Norwegian ancestry.
He was raised on a dairy farm. His father died when he was nine months old.
He died from complications due to chronic myelogenous leukemia at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Hosanna Luthern Church in Forest Lake, Minnesota.
He was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Forest Lake, Minnesota.
Religion provided by his obituary and a newspaper article.
Body: House
District: 51B
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Forest Lake
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/15/1998
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Washington
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Economic Development and International Trade
-
Economic Development and International Trade: Economic Development
-
Judiciary: DWI
-
Judiciary: Judiciary Finance Division
-
Ways and Means
Reason for unfinished term:
Appointed to other office
Session Notes:
He was appointed by Governor Arne Carlson to a District Judge position in December 1997. His resignation from the Minnesota Legislature was effective on January 15, 1998.
Body: House
District: 51B
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Forest Lake
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Washington
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Business Regulation Division
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Real Estate and Commerce
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Tourism
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Civil Law
-
Judiciary Finance
Body: House
District: 51B
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Forest Lake
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Washington
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Criminal Justice and Family Law
-
Judiciary: Data Privacy
-
Judiciary: Judiciary Finance Division
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Transit
Body: House
District: 55A
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Forest Lake
Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented:
Washington
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Environment and Natural Resources Division
-
Health and Human Services
-
Health and Human Services: Health Care Access and Delivery
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division
-
Judiciary: Data Privacy
Body: House
District: 55A
Elected: 11/8/1988
Residence: Forest Lake
Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented:
Washington
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Education
-
Health and Human Services
-
Health and Human Services: Family Health
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division
Body: House
District: 55A
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Forest Lake
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
Counties Represented:
Washington
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Education
-
Health and Human Services
-
Health and Human Services: Physical/Mental Health
-
Judiciary
-
Judiciary: Crime and Family Law Division
-
Judiciary: Sentencing Guidelines
-
Metropolitan Affairs
-
Metropolitan Affairs: Environment
-
Metropolitan Affairs: Government Structure
Articles & Books About
Harlow, Tim. "Six-Term Legislator Turned Judge Fought Drunken Driving." Minneapolis Star Tribune, February 7, 2009, p. 6B.
Chin, Richard. "Forest Lake Lawmaker Later Served as Judge (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 5, 2009, p. 10B.
Lonergan, Tom. "In Their Blood: 16 Legislators Have a Family Connection to Previous Members of the House and Senate." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 7, 2003, p. 16-17.
Healy, Nick. "New Judge Leaves Behind Family Ties in Legislature." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 23, 1998, p. 14.
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.