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Vanasek, Robert E. "Bob"

Sessions Served  red ball graphic  Other Information

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Map of New Prague
New Prague, MN

House 1973-82 (District 24A); House 1983-92 (District 25A)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus

Counties Served:  Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 04/02/1949 Date of Death: 
Birth Place: New Prague, Minnesota Birth County:  Birth Country: United States
Other Names: Bob
Gender:  Male Religion:  Catholic
City of Residence (when first elected):  New Prague

Occupation (when first elected):  None Listed

EDUCATION

New Prague High School; Secondary; Graduate
University of Minnesota; B.A.; Political Science, 1971
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; M.P.A.; Public Administration, 1988
William Mitchell College of Law; Attended Law School;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal GovernmentNew Prague, Minnesota (Volunteer Fire Department, 21 years) ??/??/19?? to ??/??/19??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Mary
Children: Three children: Robert Martin (son); Lora Beth, and Becky (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was a member of the Republican party until 1968 when he switched to the Democratic party.

He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party.

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

Legislative Session: 77th (1991-1992)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/6/1990 Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
District: 25A Residence: New Prague
Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
Occupation: Legislator
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Rules and Legislative Administration
Taxes
Taxes Subcommittee: Property Tax
Taxes Subcommittee: State Taxes and Tax Laws
Ways and Means (Chair)
Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
Leadership Notes: He resigned as Speaker of the House effective January 6, 1992.
Session Notes: He resigned to become the Executive Director of the Minnesota High Technology Council a private, nonprofit special interest group. He became the Executive Director on July 1, 1991.
Legislative Session: 76th (1989-1990)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/8/1988 Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
District: 25A Residence: New Prague
Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
Occupation: Legislator
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Rules and Legislative Administration
Taxes
Taxes Subcommittee: Tax Laws
Ways and Means (Chair)
Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
Legislative Session: 75th (1987-1988)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/4/1986 Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
District: 25A Residence: New Prague
Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
Occupation: Executive Director; New Prague Opportunities, Inc., a Nonprofit Economic Development Corporation
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair)
Taxes
Taxes Subcommittee: Property Tax Division
Ways and Means
Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
Leadership Notes: He was selected to become Speaker of the House by his caucus on June 2, 1987 and was officially elected to the position on June 25, 1987; the first day of the Special Session.
Legislative Session: 74th (1985-1986)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/6/1984 Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
District: 25A Residence: New Prague
Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
Occupation: Executive Director
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Environment
Judiciary
Judiciary Subcommittee: Civil Laws and Administration
Taxes
Taxes Subcommittee: Local Government Finance Division
Legislative Session: 73rd (1983-1984)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/2/1982 Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
District: 25A Residence: New Prague
Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
Occupation: Miller
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Game and Fish
Judiciary (Chair)
Judiciary Subcommittee: Criminal Justice Division
Rules and Legislative Administration
Rules and Legislative Administration Subcommittee: Election Recounts
Taxes
Taxes Subcommittee: Tax Laws Division
Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
Legislative Session: 72nd (1981-1982)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/4/1980 Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
District: 24A Residence: New Prague
Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
Occupation: Flour Miller
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Criminal Justice (Chair)
Criminal Justice Subcommittee: Law Enforcement and Corrections
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Recreation and Open Space (Chair)
Local and Urban Affairs Subcommittee: Local Government Financing
Rules and Legislative Administration
Taxes
Taxes Subcommittee: Mineral Taxation
Taxes Subcommittee: Tax Laws Division
Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
Legislative Session: 71st (1979-1980)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/7/1978 Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
District: 24A Residence: New Prague
Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
Occupation: Flour Miller
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Criminal Justice (Chair)
Environment and Natural Resources
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee: General Law and Veterans Affairs
Taxes
Taxes Subcommittee: Division I - Income and Sales Tax Division
Leadership Position: Assistant DFL Caucus Leader-1979
Leadership Notes: The House was evenly split along party lines after the November 1978 election. Thus neither party had majority nor minority status going into the 71st Legislative Session. In May 1979 the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party gained majority status.
Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
Leadership Notes: He became Assistant Majority Leader in May 1979.
Session Notes: He was Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee in 1980.
Legislative Session: 70th (1977-1978)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/2/1976 Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
District: 24A Residence: New Prague
Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
Occupation: Public Relations
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Environment and Natural Resources
Taxes
Transportation
Legislative Session: 69th (1975-1976)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/5/1974 Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
District: 24A Residence: New Prague
Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
Occupation: Public Relations
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Judiciary
Taxes
Transportation
Legislative Session: 68th (1973-1974)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/7/1972 Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
District: 24A Residence: New Prague
Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
Occupation: None Listed
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Higher Education
Judiciary
Taxes

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About
Tschida, John. "Members Leave House for New Experiences (Robert Vanasek)." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 17, 1992, p. 20.

"Vanasek Hopes to Tone Down Partisanship." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 18, 1991, p. 15.

"Speaker Vanasek Was Once a Republican." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 9, 1990, p. 4.


Archive Collections
Robert E. Vanasek Papers, 1969-1991 - 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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