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Abrams, Ronald L. "Ron"

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1989-2002 (District 45A); House 2003-2006 (District 43B)

Party when first elected: Independent Republican

Counties Served: Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 4/27/1952

Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Birth County: Hennepin

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Jewish

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Ron

City of Residence (when first elected): Minnetonka

Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

EDUCATION

St. Louis Park High School; Secondary;
University of Minnesota; B.A.; Interdepartmental Studies (Economics, History, and Political Science Departments), Summa Cum Laude, 1974
Harvard University, Law School; J.D.; 1977

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States House of Representatives (Summer Intern for United States Representative Bill Frenzel, 4 summers); 1972 to 1975

State Legislative Staff: Minnesota House of Representatives (Committee Administrator); 1985 to 1986

Judge: Hennepin County District Court/4th Judicial District, Minnesota (Appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty); 2006 to 20?? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Joanne Rogin-Abrams
Children: Two children: Benjamin (son), and Alexander
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Religion provided by the Jewish Community Relations Council and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

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Total Days Served: 6379

SESSIONS SERVED

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 43B

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Minnetonka

Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 6/21/2006 (unfinished term)

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Higher Education Finance Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
Taxes Minutes
Taxes: Property and Local Tax Division Minutes
Transportation Finance Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

Leadership Position: Speaker Pro Tempore
Leadership Notes: He officially resigned on June 21, 2006.

Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office

Session Notes: He was appointed by Governor Pawlenty to be a Judge with the Hennepin County District Court/4th Judicial District. He officially resigned on June 21, 2006; a special election was not held to fill the seat.

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 43B

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Minnetonka

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
Taxes (Chair) Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

Leadership Position: Speaker Pro Tempore

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Minnetonka

Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
2002 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2002 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes
Redistricting Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
Taxes (Chair) Minutes
Taxes: Property Tax Division Minutes
Taxes: Sales and Income Tax Division Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

Leadership Position: Speaker Pro Tempore

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/3/1998

Residence: Minnetonka

Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
Taxes (Chair) Minutes
Taxes: Property Taxes Division Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

Leadership Position: Speaker Pro Tempore

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Minnetonka

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Financial Institutions and Insurance Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration
Taxes Minutes
Taxes: Property Tax and Tax Increment Financing Division Minutes
Ways and Means - Ex Officio Member

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/8/1994

Residence: Minnetonka

Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Independent Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Financial Institutions and Insurance
Rules and Legislative Administration
Rules and Legislative Administration: Administration
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax and Tax Increment Financing Division
Ways and Means
Ways and Means: Government Efficiency and Oversight Division

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Minnetonka

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Elections
Rules and Legislative Administration
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax
Ways and Means

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Minnetonka

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

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking Division
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming: Elections Division
Redistricting
Taxes
Taxes: State Taxes and Tax Laws

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 45A

Elected: 11/8/1988

Residence: Minnetonka

Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Computer
Appropriations: State Departments Division
Financial Institutions and Housing
Financial Institutions and Housing: Banking
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Elections Division
Labor-Management Relations

OTHER INFORMATION

Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2006 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2003 House Interview

Articles & Books About
Janovec, Patty. "A Place on the Bench: Abrams Moves On to a Different Branch of Government." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, May 5, 2006, p. 17.

Lonergan, Tom. "Running the Show: Sviggum Re-Elected as House Speaker, Olson Joins Abrams and Boudreau as Speaker Pro Tempore." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 10, 2003, p. 9.

District Files

District File - 2000 District 45A
District File - 2002 District 45A
District File - 2003 District 43B
District File - 2004 District 43B
District File - 2005 District 43B
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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