Ted Winter
Encyclopedia
Theodore J. "Ted" Winter (born November 26, 1949) is a Minnesota
politician
and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from southwestern Minnesota. First elected in 1986 in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’s
“firestorm” that swept through the region, giving Democrats
unprecedented control of southwestern Minnesota for the next several election cycles, Winter served eight terms. He was re-elected in 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000. He represented the old District 28A and, later, District 22A, which included all or portions of Cottonwood
, Jackson
, Lyon
, Murray
, Nobles
and Redwood
counties, changing somewhat through redistricting
in 1992.
, Winter graduated from Fulda High School in 1967, then went on to Worthington Community College in Worthington
, graduating in 1970. He and his family maintain a farm in Nobles County just outside of Fulda.
movement in the mid-1980s
in its quest to bring political and social change on behalf of the region’s farmers.
While in the legislature, Winter was a member of the House Agriculture, Economic Development, Environment and Natural Resources, Financial Institutions and Insurance, Governmental Operations, Insurance, Local and Urban Affairs, Rules and Legislative Administration, Taxes, Transportation and Transit, and Ways and Means committees, and of various sub-committees relevant to each area. He served as majority leader
during the 1997-1999 biennium under House Speaker Phil Carruthers
.
to testify on behalf of the National Farmer's Union regarding the state of the agricultural economy. He ran for president of the Minnesota branch of the organization in 2002, losing to former Minnesota state representative Doug Peterson.
After his service in the legislature concluded, Winter took a position in Windom
as an agent with the Minnesota Farmer's Union, which is a non-profit membership-based organization that works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities.
in 2002. In announcing his candidacy, Winter stated he believed his "leadership abilities and past experience can make a real difference next year as we face another deep budget deficit,” adding that he was "especially concerned that rural Minnesota be treated equitably” and "should not be expected to bear more than our fair share of budget cuts.” He was unsuccessful in his comeback bid, losing the November 2, 2010, general election to Republican
newcomer Joe Schomacker
of Luverne
.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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...
from southwestern Minnesota. First elected in 1986 in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’s
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...
“firestorm” that swept through the region, giving Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
unprecedented control of southwestern Minnesota for the next several election cycles, Winter served eight terms. He was re-elected in 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000. He represented the old District 28A and, later, District 22A, which included all or portions of 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:...
, Jackson
Jackson County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,268 people, 4,556 households, and 3,116 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile . There were 5,092 housing units at an average density of 7 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...
, 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...
, Nobles
Nobles County, Minnesota
Nobles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 21,378. Its county seat is Worthington.-Geography:...
and 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...
counties, changing somewhat through 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 1992.
Background and education
From the small farm town of FuldaFulda, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,283 people, 528 households, and 328 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,328.3 people per square mile . There were 568 housing units at an average density of 588.1 per square mile...
, Winter graduated from Fulda High School in 1967, then went on to Worthington Community College in Worthington
Worthington, Minnesota
Worthington is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 12,764 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nobles County.The city's site was first settled in the 1870s as Okabena Station on a line of the Chicago, St...
, graduating in 1970. He and his family maintain a farm in Nobles County just outside of Fulda.
Advocate for farmers and legislative leadership
A farmer himself, Winter earned a reputation as a strong advocate for farmers and agricultural issues during his time in office. He had also been an advocate of the somewhat militant GroundswellGroundswell
Groundswell is the first LP album by Parts & Labor, released in 2003 on JMZ Records. The album is entirely instrumental. The enhanced content features a video for the song "Intervention".-Track listing:#"It's Not the End of the World" – 0:34...
movement in the mid-1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
in its quest to bring political and social change on behalf of the region’s farmers.
While in the legislature, Winter was a member of the House Agriculture, Economic Development, Environment and Natural Resources, Financial Institutions and Insurance, Governmental Operations, Insurance, Local and Urban Affairs, Rules and Legislative Administration, Taxes, Transportation and Transit, and Ways and Means committees, and of various sub-committees relevant to each area. He served as 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...
during the 1997-1999 biennium under House Speaker Phil Carruthers
Phil Carruthers
Phil Carruthers is a former Minnesota politician and former member and Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He is currently the director of the Civil Division at the Ramsey County Attorney's Office....
.
Service to the Minnesota Farmer's Union
In 1998, Winter appeared before the United States House Committee on AgricultureUnited States House Committee on Agriculture
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
to testify on behalf of the National Farmer's Union regarding the state of the agricultural economy. He ran for president of the Minnesota branch of the organization in 2002, losing to former Minnesota state representative Doug Peterson.
After his service in the legislature concluded, Winter took a position in Windom
Windom, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,490 people, 1,910 households, and 1,195 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,263.6 people per square mile . There were 2,089 housing units at an average density of 587.9 per square mile...
as an agent with the Minnesota Farmer's Union, which is a non-profit membership-based organization that works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities.
2010 House campaign
On June 1, 2010, Winter filed for the open House seat in District 22A, seeking to regain the position he lost to outgoing Rep. Doug MagnusDoug Magnus
Douglas Rudy "Doug" Magnus is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate, representing District 22, which includes all of Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock counties in the southwestern part of the state...
in 2002. In announcing his candidacy, Winter stated he believed his "leadership abilities and past experience can make a real difference next year as we face another deep budget deficit,” adding that he was "especially concerned that rural Minnesota be treated equitably” and "should not be expected to bear more than our fair share of budget cuts.” He was unsuccessful in his comeback bid, losing the November 2, 2010, general election to 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:...
newcomer Joe Schomacker
Joe Schomacker
Joseph "Joe" Roy Schomacker is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represents District 22A, which includes all or portions of Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock counties in the southwestern part of the state...
of Luverne
Luverne, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,617 people, 1,968 households, and 1,247 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,356.1 people per square mile . There were 2,161 housing units at an average density of 634.7 per square mile...
.