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Benson, Duane D.

Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 1981-82 (District 35); Senate 1983-92 (District 32); Senate 1993-94 (District 31)

Party when first elected: Independent Republican

Counties Served: Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 8/5/1945

Birth Place: Belmond, Iowa

Birth County: Wright

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death: 1/26/2019

Gender: Male

Religion:

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Lanesboro

Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

EDUCATION

Hamline University; B.A.; With Honors, 1967

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board (At-Large Member, Appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty); 07/01/2004 to 20?? [Appointed]

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (Appointed by Governor Mark Dayton); 06/2012 to 08/2015 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Melissa
Children: Two children: Brooke and Jess
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: education, health care, agriculture, local government, transportation.

He was a linebacker for eleven years in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, and Houston Oilers.

He was a member of the 'Gang of Seven' who helped to establish MinnesotaCare in the early 1990s (Access Press, March 10, 2018).

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Total Days Served: 5005

SESSIONS SERVED

78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Lanesboro

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 9/19/1994 (unfinished term)

Counties Represented: Dodge, Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Winona

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Governmental Operations and Reform
Governmental Operations and Reform: Reform and Innovation
Health Care
Health Care: Health Care and Family Services Finance Division
Rules and Administration
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income and Sales Tax
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax

Reason for unfinished term: Resigned

Session Notes: He resigned on September 19, 1994 to become Director of the Minnesota Business Partnership.

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 32

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Lanesboro

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

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Winona

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services: Health Care Access Division
Redistricting
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income, Sales, and Economic Development Division
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids Division

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 32

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Lanesboro

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

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Winona

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services: Welfare Reform
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax Division

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 32

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Lanesboro

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

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Winona

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services: Welfare Reform Division
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 32

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Lanesboro

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

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Winona

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Economic Development and Commerce
Economic Development and Commerce: Banking
Economic Development and Commerce: Economic Development
Governmental Operations
Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services: Social Services
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 32

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Lanesboro

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

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Winona

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Economic Development and Commerce
Economic Development and Commerce: Banking
Economic Development and Commerce: Economic Development
Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations: Administration
Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services: Social Services
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 35

Elected: 11/4/1980

Residence: Lanesboro

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

Counties Represented: Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Consumer Protection
Commerce: Publicly Regulated Industries
Education
Education: Educational Organization and Special Programs
Education: Joint House/Senate Subcommittee on Libraries
Health, Welfare and Corrections
Local Government and Urban Affairs

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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 Bill Luther, Senator Duane Benson, and Senator Roger Moe talk on the Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Senator Duane Benson speaks on the floor of the Senate, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Senator Nancy Brataas, and Senator Duane Benson listen to Senator Roy Terwilliger during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Senators Ron Dicklich, William Luther, Allan Spear, Roger Moe, and Duane Benson read a bill during a Senate floor session, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Articles & Books About
Olson, Rochelle. "Duane Benson State Senator, Business Leader, NFL Player: Talent for Tackling Tough Issues with a Smile Served State Well." Star Tribune, January 29, 2019, p. B4.

Reilly, Mark. "Duane Benson, Ex-Minnesota Business Partnership CEO and Former NFL Player, Dies at 73." Business Journal, January 29, 2019.

Salisbury, Bill. "Duane Benson, Former State Senator, Oakland Raider, Dies at 73." Pioneer Press, January 28, 2019.

Stolle, Matthew. "Duane Benson, NFL Player and Legislator, Dies." Rochester Post-Bulletin, January 28, 2019.

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.

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