Andy Welti
Encyclopedia
Andy J. Welti was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
. A Democrat
, he was first elected in 2004, defeating four-term incumbent Republican
Bill Kuisle. Just 24 years of age at the time, his victory over Kuisle (who served as chair of the Transportation Committee, and was also a member of the Ways and Means Committee) was regarded as a significant political upset in the traditionally Republican area.
Welti represented District 30B, which includes portions of Rochester
and largely rural areas of Olmsted
, Winona
, and Wabasha
counties, including the towns of Stewartville
, Dover
, Eyota
, Chatfield
, part of St. Charles
, and his home town of Plainview
. His parents continue to own and operate a farm
located just outside of Plainview.
Welti won re-election in 2006 with 52% of the vote and again in 2008 with 56% of the vote. Both contests were re-matches against Kuisle. In the aftermath of the 2008 election, he was elected by his DFL colleagues as one of eight assistant majority leader
s. He was unseated by Republican
Mike Benson in the 2010 general election. During his time in the legislature, his work has focused largely on veteran's affairs, education
, agriculture
and alternative energy
.
Committees served on during the 2007-08 biennium:
Committees served on during the 2005-06 biennium:
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Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
. A Democrat
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
, he was first elected in 2004, defeating four-term incumbent Republican
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
Bill Kuisle. Just 24 years of age at the time, his victory over Kuisle (who served as chair of the Transportation Committee, and was also a member of the Ways and Means Committee) was regarded as a significant political upset in the traditionally Republican area.
Welti represented District 30B, which includes portions of Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
and largely rural areas of Olmsted
Olmsted County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 124,277 people, 47,807 households, and 32,317 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 49,422 housing units at an average density of 76 per square mile...
, Winona
Winona County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,985 people, 18,744 households, and 11,696 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 19,551 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile...
, and Wabasha
Wabasha County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,610 people, 8,277 households, and 5,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile . There were 9,066 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
counties, including the towns of Stewartville
Stewartville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,411 people, 2,013 households, and 1,417 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,579.6 people per square mile . There were 2,074 housing units at an average density of 988.7 per square mile...
, Dover
Dover, Minnesota
Dover is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 735 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Eyota
Eyota, Minnesota
Eyota is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,977 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Chatfield
Chatfield, Minnesota
Chatfield is a city in Fillmore and Olmsted counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 2,779 at the 2010 census. The city's area is split almost equally between the two counties...
, part of St. Charles
St. Charles, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,295 people, 1,238 households, and 870 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,005.3 people per square mile . There were 1,276 housing units at an average density of 389.3 per square mile...
, and his home town of Plainview
Plainview, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,190 people, 1,157 households, and 824 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,452.5 people per square mile . There were 1,223 housing units at an average density of 556.9 per square mile...
. His parents continue to own and operate a farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
located just outside of Plainview.
Welti won re-election in 2006 with 52% of the vote and again in 2008 with 56% of the vote. Both contests were re-matches against Kuisle. In the aftermath of the 2008 election, he was elected by his DFL colleagues as one of eight assistant majority leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
s. He was unseated by Republican
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
Mike Benson in the 2010 general election. During his time in the legislature, his work has focused largely on veteran's affairs, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and alternative energy
Alternative energy
Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels....
.
Committee assignments
Committees served on during the 2009-10 biennium:- Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division
- Energy Finance and Policy Division Committee
- Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
- Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division
- Transportation Finance and Policy Division
Committees served on during the 2007-08 biennium:
- Energy Finance and Policy Division
- Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
- E-12 Education
- Agriculture, Rural Economics, and Veterans Affairs Division.
Committees served on during the 2005-06 biennium:
- Agriculture and Rural Development
- Environment and Natural Resources
- Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs
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