Yvonne Prettner Solon

Yvonne Prettner Solon (born February 3, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 47th lieutenant governor of Minnesota,[1] from 2011 to 2015. She is the sixth consecutive woman to serve in that capacity and is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. She served with Governor Mark Dayton, who successfully ran for reelection, while she chose to retire at the end of her term.[2][3][4]

Yvonne Prettner Solon
47th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
In office January 3, 2011 – January 5, 2015
Governor	Mark Dayton
Preceded by	Carol Molnau
Succeeded by	Tina Smith
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 7th district
In office February 4, 2002 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Sam Solon
Succeeded by	Roger Reinert
Personal details
Born	February 3, 1946 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Sam Solon (deceased)
Children	2
Residence	Duluth, Minnesota
Alma mater	University of Minnesota Duluth
Occupation	psychologist, legislator

Education

Prettner Solon completed her secondary education at Stanbrook Hall Preparatory School, a Roman Catholic school for girls in Duluth, Minnesota. She received a B.S.D. and a M.A. from the University of Minnesota Duluth.[5]

State Senate

Prettner Solon was a member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 7, which includes portions of St. Louis County in the northeastern part of the state. She was first elected in a January 2002 special election held after the death of her husband, Senator Sam Solon, on December 28, 2001. She was reelected in 2002 and 2006.[5] Her special legislative concerns included economic development, education, health care, the environment, transportation, and jobs.[6]

Committees

Prettner Solon was a member of the Senate's Capital Investment Committee, the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, the Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications Committee (which she chairs), and the Health, Housing and Family Security Committee. She also served on the Finance Subcommittee for the Health and Human Services Budget Division.

Lieutenant Governor

On May 24, 2010, gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton announced that Prettner Solon would be his lieutenant governor running mate in the 2010 election.[7] In choosing her, Dayton said that "her thoughtful, sensitive and visionary leadership and public service are further informed by her life experiences, which have forged a woman I deeply respect and admire." Her selection was seen as bringing balance to the Dayton campaign.[8]

On August 10, 2010, the Dayton-Prettner Solon ticket narrowly defeated Margaret Anderson Kelliher to earn the DFL nomination and a spot in the November general election. After a close election that included a recount, Dayton and Prettner Solon defeated Republican nominees Tom Emmer and Annette Meeks in the November general election.[9]

Electoral history

Minnesota Senate Election District 7, 2002[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Yvonne Prettner Solon (incumbent)	19,314	73%
	Republican	Justin Krych	7,128	27%

Minnesota Senate Election District 7, 2006[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Yvonne Prettner Solon (incumbent)	21,861	74.9%
	Republican	Steve Khalar	7,243	24.8%

See also

• List of female lieutenant governors in the United States

References

1. "Democrat Dayton wins Minnesota Gov. recount". CNN. 2010-12-04. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
2. Brian Bakst (January 14, 2014). "Minn. Lt. Gov. Prettner Solon says no to 2nd term". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
3. Briana Bierschbach (January 14, 2014). "Lt. Gov. Prettner Solon, announcing she won't run again, reflects on highlights, limited role". MinnPost. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
4. Tim Pugmire (January 14, 2014). "Lt. Gov. Prettner Solon not running for re-election". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
5. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Prettner Solon, Yvonne". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
6. "Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon DFL District 07". Minnesota Senate. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
7. "Dayton picks Prettner Solon for LG running mate". Politics in Minnesota. 2010-05-24. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
8. "Dayton's choice of Solon gives ticket regional and gender balance". Minn Post. 2010-05-24. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
9. "Democrat wins last outstanding governor's race". 4 December 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
10. "Campaign 2002 Minnesota - Legislature Districts 1-15". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
11. "Campaign 2006 - Election results: Minnesota Senate District 7". Minnesota Public Radio. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2010-11-04.

External links

• Yvonne Prettner Solon at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
• Senator Prettner Solon Web Page
• Minnesota Public Radio Votetracker: Senator Prettner Solon
• Iron Range Resources Board Profile: Yvonne Prettner Solon - Fall 2008 p.7