Dennis Frederickson
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
. 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.
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
.
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. 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.
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:...
politician from 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...
and a former Minnesota State Senator
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
. He was first elected in 1980 when he ran for the seat being vacated by Senator Carl Jensen
Carl Jensen (Minnesota politician)
Carl Arthur Jensen was a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate from southwestern Minnesota. He first ran for the House in 1950, when the District 14 seat for Brown County became vacant due to the unexpected death of Rep. William V....
, 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
New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County....
mayor and state representative
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...
Tony Eckstein
Tony Eckstein
Anton Joseph “Tony” or “A. J.”Eckstein was a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from southwestern Minnesota. First elected in 1970, Eckstein was re-elected in 1972, 1974 and 1976...
. In recent campaigns, his re-election committee was chaired by former state senator Earl Renneke
Earl Renneke
Earl W. Renneke is a former Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota Senate from southern Minnesota. He was first elected in a March 25, 1969, special election to fill the vacancy that arose due to the unexpected death of Senator Harold Popp in a traffic accident on February 21,...
.
Frederickson most recently represented District 21. Prior to legislative redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
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
Blue Earth County, Minnesota
Blue Earth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 64,013. Its county seat is Mankato.Blue Earth County is part of the Mankato–North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Brown
Brown County, Minnesota
Brown County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 25,893. Its county seat is New Ulm.-Geography:...
, Cottonwood
Cottonwood County, Minnesota
Cottonwood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 11,687. Its county seat is Windom.-History:...
, Le Sueur
Le Sueur County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,426 people, 9,630 households, and 6,923 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile . There were 10,858 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, Lyon
Lyon County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,425 people, 9,715 households, and 6,334 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile . There were 10,298 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
, McLeod
McLeod County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,898 people, 13,449 households, and 9,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile . There were 14,087 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
, Murray
Murray County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,165 people, 3,722 households, and 2,601 families residing in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile . There were 4,357 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile...
, Nicollet
Nicollet County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,771 people, 10,642 households, and 7,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile . There were 11,240 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, Redwood
Redwood County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,815 people, 6,674 households, and 4,524 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile . There were 7,230 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, Renville
Renville County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,154 people, 6,779 households, and 4,623 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile . There were 7,413 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, Sibley
Sibley County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,356 people, 5,772 households, and 4,086 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 6,024 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
, and Watonwan
Watonwan County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,876 people, 4,627 households, and 3,141 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 5,036 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
counties.
Rural roots and family background
Frederickson was born and raised on a farm in Redwood County near MorganMorgan, Minnesota
Morgan is a city in Redwood County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 896 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. He graduated from Morgan High School in 1957 and the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1961 with a B.S. degree in agricultural economics
Agricultural economics
Agricultural economics originally applied the principles of economics to the production of crops and livestock — a discipline known as agronomics. Agronomics was a branch of economics that specifically dealt with land usage. It focused on maximizing the crop yield while maintaining a good soil...
. 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.
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
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
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
New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County....
.
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 Ducks Unlimited Ducks Unlimited is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people. It currently has approximately 780,000 members, mostly in the United States and Canada.-Introduction:Ducks Unlimited was... Conservation Award for an Elected Official; Redwood County Pheasants Forever Pheasants Forever Pheasants Forever, Inc. is a nonprofit conservation organization in the United States formed in response to the continuing decline of upland wildlife. Pheasants Forever have 700 chapters, including 74 in Minnesota, and about 110,000 members Nationwide, including 22,500 in Minnesota. Quail 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
President pro tempore
A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...
of the Senate from January 2007 until his retirement. He also served on the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), which made recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota Legislature
The Minnesota Legislature is the legislative branch of government in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is a bicameral legislature located at the Minnesota Capitol in Saint Paul and it consists of two houses: the lower Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate...
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.
External links
- Senator Dennis R. Frederickson official Minnesota Legislature site
- Minnesota State Senator Dennis Frederickson official campaign site
- Voting record at Minnesota Public Radio Votetracker