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Prettner Solon, Yvonne

Senate 2002-2010 (District 7)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  St. Louis

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 2/3/1946
Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth County: Hennepin
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Female
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Former Name: Prettner
Alternate Spelling of Last Name: Solon
City of Residence (when first elected): Duluth
Occupation (when first elected): Psychologist

EDUCATION

St. John's Elementary School, Duluth; Elementary School;
Stanbrook Hall Preparatory School, Duluth; Secondary;
University of Minnesota, Duluth; B.S.D.; Social Development and Psychology, 1979
University of Minnesota, Duluth; M.A.; Educational Psychology

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Seaway Port Authority of Duluth; [Dates Unknown]
Municipal Council/Aldermen: Duluth, Minnesota (City Council); 1988 to 1999 [Elected]
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Iron Range Resources Board; 2003 to 2???
State Lieutenant Governor: Minnesota; 01/03/2011 to 01/05/2015 [Elected]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Sam George Solon (he died while in office on December 28, 2001; she won the seat held by her husband in a Jan. 29th special election); Widow (while in office)
Children: Two children: Shelley and Matthew Prettner
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Sam George Solon  - Husband

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: economic development, education, health care, environment, transportation, jobs.

Prior to 2007 she listed Prettner as her middle name and used Solon as her last name.

She was born and raised in northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota and moved to Duluth, Minnesota when she was 12 years old.

Total Days Served: 3256

SESSIONS SERVED

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 07
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Duluth
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Clinical Psychologist, Duluth
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Capital Investment
  • Commerce and Consumer Protection
  • Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications (Chair)
  • Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
  • Health, Housing and Family Security

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 07
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Duluth
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Clinical Psychologist, Duluth
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Capital Investment
  • Commerce and Consumer Protection
  • Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications (Chair)
  • Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
  • Health, Housing and Family Security

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 07
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Duluth
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Psychologist
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming
  • Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
  • Finance: Higher Education Budget Division
  • State and Local Government Operations

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 07
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Duluth
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Psychologist
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Finance: Health, Human Services and Corrections Budget Division
  • Finance: Higher Education Budget Division
  • State and Local Government Operations

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 07
Elected: 1/29/2002
Residence: Duluth
Term of Office: 2/4/2002 to 1/6/2003 (Special Election)
Counties Represented: St. Louis
Occupation: Psychologist
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
Session Notes: She won the seat held by her husband, Sam Solon, in a January special election after his death in December 2001. She was sworn in on February 4, 2002.

District Files

District File - 2002 District 07
District File - 2003 District 07
District File - 2004 District 07
District File - 2005 District 07
District File - 2006 District 07
District File - 2007 District 07
District File - 2008 District 07
District File - 2009 District 07
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.