Jim Vickerman
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| Jim Vickerman | |
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Member of the Minnesota State Senate
from the 22nd district |
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| In office 1987 – present |
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| Born | May 1, 1931 Tracy, Minnesota |
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| Political party | DFL |
| Spouse | Wava Carlson Vickerman |
| Children | 6 |
| Residence | Tracy, Minnesota |
| Occupation | Legislator, Farmer |
| Religion | Methodist |
James Murray "Jim" Vickerman (born May 1, 1931) is a politician from Minnesota and a Minnesota State Senator, first elected in 1986 in the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's "firestorm" that swept southwestern Minnesota during the height of the 1980s Midwestern farm crisis. In that election, Vickerman unseated the incumbent senator, winning by a substantial margin.
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[edit] Senate representation and leadership
Vickerman, who lives just outside of Tracy, represents District 22, which includes all or portions of Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock and Watonwan counties. Vickerman was re-elected in 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2006.
Vickerman is chair of the Minnesota Senate's Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming Committee, and of the Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division of the Finance Committee. He also serves on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, the State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee, the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division of the Finance Committee, the State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee, and the State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Subcommittee on Gaming. He previously served as chair of the Veterans and General Legislation Committee, the State and Local Government Operation Committee, and the Rules and Administration Committee. He was Majority Whip from 2003 through 2007.
[edit] Rural roots and family background
Vickerman was raised in a Minnesota farm family in Murray County. His father was involved in local township government throughout most of the senator's childhood. This early exposure carved a path for Vickerman's second career in politics. He initially participated in local government as a twelve-year member of the area water and soil board, and later served as a Murray County Commissioner, prior to being elected to the Minnesota Senate. He and his wife, Wava, were married in 1950, and are the parents of six children.
[edit] Consensus builder
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While a DFLer, Vickerman has endured through the many changes that have occurred on the Minnesota political landscape in large part because of his moderate stance on most issues, and his ability to reach out to both Democrats and Republicans to achieve consensus. Generally above the fray of partisan politics, he is highly regarded on both sides of the political aisle.
