Bud Heidgerken is a Minnesota

Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

 politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives

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 Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

, he represented District 13A, which includes which includes portions of Kandiyohi

Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

Kandiyohi County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, its population was 42,239. Its county seat is Willmar.- History :...

, Pope

Pope County, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,236 people, 4,513 households, and 3,064 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile . There were 5,827 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...

 and Stearns

Stearns County, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 133,166 people, 47,604 households, and 32,132 families residing in the county. The population density was 99 people per square mile . There were 50,291 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...

 counties in the west central part of the state.

Heidgerken was first elected in 2002, and was re-elected in 2004 and 2006. He did not seek re-election in 2008, and was succeeded by Rep. Paul Anderson

Paul Anderson (politician)

Paul H. Anderson is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 13A, which includes portions of Kandiyohi, Pope and Stearns counties in the west central part of the state. A Republican, he is also a farmer.Anderson was elected in 2008,...

 of Starbuck

Starbuck, Minnesota

Starbuck is a city in Pope County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,302 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Minnesota State Highways 28, 29, and 114 are three of the main routes in the city.-History:...

.

Heidgerken graduated from St. John's Prep School

College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University

The College of Saint Benedict , for women, and Saint John's University , for men, are partnered liberal arts colleges respectively located in St. Joseph and Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Students attend classes and activities together, and have access to the resources of both campuses...

 in St. Joseph

St. Joseph, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,681 people, 1,120 households, and 712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,517.4 people per square mile . There were 1,147 housing units at an average density of 616.8 per square mile...

 and St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...

 in St. Cloud

St. Cloud, Minnesota

St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...

. He taught school in the Brooten

Brooten, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 649 people, 278 households, and 167 families residing in the city. The population density was 446.7 people per square mile . There were 338 housing units at an average density of 232.7 per square mile...

 School System and, later, the Belgrade

Belgrade, Minnesota

Belgrade is a town in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 740 at the 2010 census. It is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

-Brooten-Elrosa

Elrosa, Minnesota

Elrosa is a city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 211 at the 2010 census. It is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

 School System for 21 years. He and his wife also owned Charlie's Cafe in Freeport

Freeport, Minnesota

Freeport is a city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 632 at the 2010 census. It is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Freeport is located in Oak Township, T125N R32W §3...

 for many years. He was a member of the Freeport City Council and the Freeport School Board, and also served as president of the Stearns Electric Trust Board.

Heidgerken made news in the 2008 legislative session by being one of six house Republicans to vote to override Governor Tim Pawlenty

Tim Pawlenty

Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...

's veto of a transportation bill. The bill increased money spent on transportation by raising the gas tax. Due to dissatifaction in the Republican caucus with this vote, he and the other Republicans who voted to override the veto had their leadership positions taken away. He decided to retire after the session, partially due to the controversy surrounding this vote. Other house members who voted to override faced caucus challenges or decided to retire, as well.

External links

• Minnesota Public Radio - Votetracker: Bud Heidgerken voting record
• Follow the Money - Bud Heidgerken
  • 2006 2004 2002 campaign contributions