Steve Gottwalt
Encyclopedia
Steven M. "Steve" Gottwalt (born October 16, 1961) is a Minnesota
politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
representing District 15A, which includes portions of Stearns County
in the west central part of the state. A Republican
, he is also the Director of Communications and Consumer Affairs for Coborn's, a regional grocery store chain.
in Collegeville, then went on to the College of St. Thomas
in Saint Paul
, earning his B.A.
in Journalism and English in 1984. He served in the United States Air Force
Reserve Officers Training Corps from 1983-1985. He worked as a radio broadcaster for KSJR-FM
and WJON
, and later as a contract manager for Medica Health Plans (1995–1996), as director of contracting for United HealthCare's seniors program EverCare (1996–1997), and as director of communications for the Diocese of St. Cloud (1997–2006) prior to coming to Coborn's.
Chamber of Commerce
, the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership, the St. Cloud Regional Airport Board, and the Central Minnesota Transportation Alliance. He was chair of the St. Cloud Area Human Services Council from 1992–1995, a board member of the St. Cloud Area Planning Organization from 1997–1999, a board member of the Great River Regional Library from 1999–2001, and a member of the St. Cloud mayor's Government Reform and Efficiency Task Force from 1999–2001. He was a member of the St. Cloud City Council from 1997–2006, also serving as the council's vice president during that
time.
. The conservative Citizens' Council for Health Freedom stated that he was attempting to implement the “command and control” infrastructure of Obamacare. Gottwalt subsequently withdrew the legislation.
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 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...
representing District 15A, which includes portions of Stearns County
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...
in the west central part of the state. A 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:...
, he is also the Director of Communications and Consumer Affairs for Coborn's, a regional grocery store chain.
Legislative service
Gottwalt was first elected in 2006, and was re-elected in 2008 and 2010. He is currently chair of the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee, and also serves on the Health and Human Services Finance and the Taxes committees.Education and professional background
Gottwalt graduated from St. John's Preparatory SchoolSaint John's Preparatory School (Collegeville, Minnesota)
Founded in 1857, Saint John’s Preparatory School is a Catholic/Benedictine, co-educational, day and boarding college preparatory school located in Collegeville, Minnesota. The school includes a Middle School consisting of grades 6-8 and an Upper School consisting of grades 9-12...
in Collegeville, then went on to the College of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
The University of St. Thomas is a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and archdiocesan university located in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States...
in Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, earning his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Journalism and English in 1984. He served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Reserve Officers Training Corps from 1983-1985. He worked as a radio broadcaster for KSJR-FM
KSJR-FM
KSJR-FM is a radio station licensed to Collegeville, Minnesota, and serving the St. Cloud area. The station is owned by Minnesota Public Radio , and airs MPR's "Classical Music Network", originating from KSJN in Minneapolis/St. Paul....
and WJON
WJON
WJON is a radio station in St. Cloud, Minnesota airing a News/Talk format. The station is owned by Townsquare Media. Its main competitors are Leighton Broadcasting's KNSI of St. Cloud and WCCO and KTLK-FM of Minneapolis....
, and later as a contract manager for Medica Health Plans (1995–1996), as director of contracting for United HealthCare's seniors program EverCare (1996–1997), and as director of communications for the Diocese of St. Cloud (1997–2006) prior to coming to Coborn's.
Community service and leadership
Active in his local community, Gottwalt has been a member of the St. CloudSt. 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...
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership, the St. Cloud Regional Airport Board, and the Central Minnesota Transportation Alliance. He was chair of the St. Cloud Area Human Services Council from 1992–1995, a board member of the St. Cloud Area Planning Organization from 1997–1999, a board member of the Great River Regional Library from 1999–2001, and a member of the St. Cloud mayor's Government Reform and Efficiency Task Force from 1999–2001. He was a member of the St. Cloud City Council from 1997–2006, also serving as the council's vice president during that
time.
Political Controversies
In 2011, Gottwalt came under fire from conservatives in his party for supporting elements of Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
. The conservative Citizens' Council for Health Freedom stated that he was attempting to implement the “command and control” infrastructure of Obamacare. Gottwalt subsequently withdrew the legislation.
External links
- Rep. Gottwalt Web Page
- Project Votesmart - Rep. Steve Gottwalt Profile
- Minnesota Public Radio Votetracker: Rep. Steve Gottwalt
- Steve Gottwalt Campaign Web Site