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    Sykora, Barbara "Barb"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1995-2002 (District 43B); House 2003-2006 (District 33B)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: ??/??/1941
    Birth Place:
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Female
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Barb
    Former Name: Zwach
    City of Residence (when first elected): Excelsior
    Occupation (when first elected): Legislator/Former School Teacher

    EDUCATION

    Milroy High School; Secondary; Graduate
    College of St. Catherine; B.A.; Education

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States House of Representatives (Director of the Minnesota Office for United States Representative Rod Grams); 1993 to 199?
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Ballpark Authority; 2006 to ? [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Bob
    Children: Four children: Mona, John, Kara, and Mary
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    John Matthew Zwach, Sr.  - Father

    GENERAL NOTES

    She ran unsuccessfully as the Independent Republican endorsed candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District in the 1986 election. She lost to Gerry Sikorski.

    Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 4289

    SESSIONS SERVED

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33B
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Excelsior
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 9/30/2006 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Legislator/Homemaker
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: She resigned after being appointed by Hennepin County to the Minnesota Ballpark Authority.
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 33B
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Excelsior
    Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Legislator/Homemaker
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce, Jobs, and Economic Development Minutes
    • Education Finance Minutes
    • Education Policy (Chair) Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 43B
    Elected: 11/7/2000
    Residence: Excelsior
    Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Legislator/Homemaker
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce, Jobs, and Economic Development Minutes
    • Crime Prevention Minutes
    • Education Policy Minutes
    • Family and Early Childhood Education Finance (Chair) Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 43B
    Elected: 11/3/1998
    Residence: Excelsior
    Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Legislator/Homemaker
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education Policy Minutes
    • Family and Early Childhood Education Finance (Chair) Minutes
    • Jobs and Economic Development Finance Minutes
    • Jobs and Economic Development Policy Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes

    80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 43B
    Elected: 11/5/1996
    Residence: Excelsior
    Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Legislator
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Economic Development and International Trade: Housing and Housing Finance Division
    • Education Minutes
    • Education: Family and Early Childhood Education Finance Division Minutes
    • Education: Quality Initiatives Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration

    79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 43B
    Elected: 11/8/1994
    Residence: Excelsior
    Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Legislator/Former School Teacher
    Party: Independent Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: University of Minnesota Finance Division
    • Housing
    • Housing: Reclaiming and Recycling Vacant Housing
    • International Trade and Economic Development
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Ong, Bao. "Goodbye 'My Fair Lady': Sykora's 12 Years of Service Marked with Fairness, Inclusion." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, May 12, 2006, p. 19.

    Dunn, Ruth. "Like Father, Like Son/Daughter: Legislative Service is Family Affair for Six Members." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 22, 2005, p. 20.

    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.

    Hanzlik, K. Darcy. "Former IR Party Chair Takes Seat in House Chamber." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 6, 1995, p. 8.


    District Files

    District File - 2000 District 43B
    District File - 2002 District 43B
    District File - 2003 District 33B
    District File - 2004 District 33B
    District File - 2005 District 33B
    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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