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    Vanasek, Robert E. "Bob"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    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: 4/2/1949
    Birth Place: New Prague, Minnesota
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Bob
    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 Government: New 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.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 7308

    SESSIONS SERVED

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25A
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: New Prague
    Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
    Occupation: Legislator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Property Tax
    • Taxes: 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.
    term photo
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    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25A
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: New Prague
    Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
    Occupation: Legislator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Tax Laws
    • Ways and Means (Chair)
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25A
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: New Prague
    Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
    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: 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.

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25A
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: New Prague
    Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
    Occupation: Executive Director
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Environment and Natural Resources: Environment
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Laws and Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Local Government Finance Division
    term photo
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    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25A
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: New Prague
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
    Occupation: Miller
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Environment and Natural Resources: Game and Fish
    • Judiciary (Chair)
    • Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Rules and Legislative Administration: Election Recounts
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division: Property Tax System Subcommittee
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 24A
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: New Prague
    Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
    Occupation: Flour Miller
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Criminal Justice (Chair)
    • Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement and Corrections
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Environment and Natural Resources: Recreation and Open Space (Chair)
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Local Government Financing
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Mineral Taxation
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
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    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 24A
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: New Prague
    Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
    Occupation: Flour Miller
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Criminal Justice (Chair) [He was the Chair in 1980 only.]
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: General Law and Veterans Affairs
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: 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.

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 24A
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: New Prague
    Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
    Occupation: Public Relations
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Taxes
    • Transportation
    term photo
    Click to view

    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 24A
    Elected: 11/5/1974
    Residence: New Prague
    Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
    Occupation: Public Relations
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Taxes
    • Transportation

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 24A
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: New Prague
    Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Higher Education
    • Judiciary
    • Taxes
    term photo
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    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.
    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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