Dennis Frederickson

Dennis R. Frederickson (born July 27, 1939) is a Republican politician from Minnesota and a former Minnesota State Senator. He was first elected in 1980 when he ran for the seat being vacated by Senator Carl Jensen, who was appointed to the Minnesota Tax Court and did not seek re-election. He was re-elected in 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2006, receiving only one serious challenge for the position back in 1982 from former New Ulm mayor and state representative Tony Eckstein. In recent campaigns, his re-election committee was chaired by former state senator Earl Renneke.[1]

Dennis Frederickson
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 21st district
In office
January 6, 1981 – January 4, 2011
Preceded byCarl Jensen
Succeeded byGary Dahms
Personal details
Born (1939-07-27) July 27, 1939
Morgan, Minnesota
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Marj
Children3
ResidenceNew Ulm, Minnesota
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota
OccupationLegislator, Farmer, Veteran

Frederickson most recently represented District 21. Prior to legislative redistricting in 1990 and 2000, the area was known as District 28 and District 23, respectively. Through the years, he represented all or portions of Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Le Sueur, Lyon, McLeod, Murray, Nicollet, Redwood, Renville, Sibley, and Watonwan counties.[1][2]

Rural roots and family background

Frederickson was born and raised on a farm in Redwood County near Morgan. He graduated from Morgan High School in 1957 and the University of Minnesota in 1961 with a B.S. degree in agricultural economics. After graduation, he spent five years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as a pilot. Following active duty, he flew in the Naval Air Reserve for three years, being honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.[1]

Frederickson returned to the family farm in 1967 and was first elected to public office in 1972 as a Redwood County Commissioner, serving eight years. He served five years on the Redwood County Nursing Home Board, four as chairman, and is a former adult 4-H leader, Sunday school teacher, local Lions Club member and past president, and State Home Economics Advisory Council member. He also served on the Redwood Electric Cooperative Board of Directors for 20 years. He has since retired from farming and moved to New Ulm.[3]

Senate representation and leadership

As senator, Frederickson earned a reputation as a leader in issues relevant to environment and natural resources, and has received many awards for his service, noted in the following table. His special legislative concerns also included local government, finance and agriculture.

Year Awards[3]
2008 Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy's Long Portage Award
2007 The Nature Conservancy's Government Relations Award, and Conservation Minnesota's 100% Minnesotan Award
2006 Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts' Legislator of the Year Award; Minnesota Ground Water Association Outstanding Service Award; Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Allies Award; Minnesota Citizens for the Arts All Star Award
2005 Wildlife Heritage Award
2003 Minnesota Chapter of Ducks Unlimited Conservation Award for an Elected Official; Redwood County Pheasants Forever Award for habitat improvement; Minnesota League of Conservation Voters Environmental Leadership Award
2001 Friends of the Minnesota Valley Conservation Award; Nicollet Conservation Club's Conservationist of the Year Award
1997 Government Relations Award from the Nature Conservancy
1996 John Rose Award from the Fish and Wildlife Legislation Association; Outstanding Environmental Leadership Award by the Minnesota League of Conservation Voters; The Minnesota River Board also presented him with a special award for his efforts to clean up the Minnesota River
1995 Legislator of the Year from the Minnesota Deer Hunters' Association
1991 Outstanding Cooperator Award from the Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District

Over the years, Frederickson served on the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources, Capital Investment, Elections and Ethics, Finance, Gaming Regulation, Governmental Operations, Jobs, Energy & Community Development, Local Government and Urban Affairs, Public Employees & Pensions, Rules & Administration, and Telecommunications, Energy & Utilities committees, and on various relevant subcommittees. Of those committees, he was a member of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee for 26 years and of the Environment Budget Division for 24 years. He was President Pro Tempore of the Senate from January 2007 until his retirement.[1] He also served on the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), which made recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature on how to spend money from the Environmental Trust Fund, and on the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy.

On March 30, 2010, Frederickson announced that he would not seek a tenth term in the Minnesota Senate.[4]

References
  1. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=10196
  2. "District 21". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  3. http://www.dennisfrederickson.org/biography.htm Archived May 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. http://politicsinminnesota.com/blog/2010/03/frederickson-announces-state-senate-retirement/
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