Arlen Erdahl

Arlen Ingolf Erdahl (February 27, 1931– ) served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1963 to 1970, Minnesota Secretary of State from 1971–1975 and was a U.S. Representative from Minnesota, serving the first district from 1979–1983, in the 96th and 97th congresses.^[1]

Background

Arlen Ingolf Erdahl was born in Blue Earth, Faribault County, Minnesota. He attended Faribault County public schools. He graduated from St. Olaf College (B.A. 1953) and Harvard University (M.P.A., 1966). He served in United States Army from 1954–1956.

Political career

Erdahl was elected to Congress in 1978 after 20-year incumbent Al Quie gave up the seat to make a successful run for governor of Minnesota. His successful campaign for Minnesota's First Congressional seat in 1978 was managed by Arlen Wittrock. During his four years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Keith Hall served as his Washington Chief of Staff and Arlen Wittrock served as his Minnesota Chief of Staff. He was easily reelected in 1980. Redistricting led to an endorsement contest with Second Congressional District incumbent, Rep. Tom Hagedorn. After narrowly losing the First District Republican Convention endorsement to Hagedorn (who was narrowly defeated in 1982 by Minnesota State Senator, Tim Penny), Erdahl won the Sixth Congressional District primary, but was narrowly defeated in the general election by Gerry Sikorski. After Tim Penny's retirement, Erdahl ran for his old First District seat in 1994, but was defeated in the primary by State Representative Gil Gutknecht, the eventual winner.

He was Principal Deputy/Acting Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy from 1989 to 1993. Erdahl also served as Associate Director/Country Director for the Peace Corps from 1983 to 1989. He currently serves on the board of the United Nations Association of Minnesota. In 1999 he won the Twin Cities International Citizen Award, an informal joint project of the Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the Counties of Hennepin and Ramsey.^[2] In April, 2011 he was recognized for his public leadership and service with the Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Award by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.^[3]

The Arlen Inglof Erdahl collection at the Southern Minnesota Historical Center, Memorial Library at the Minnesota State University, Mankato contains materials about his seven years in the Minnesota House of Representatives and his campaign for Minnesota Secretary of State in 1970.^[4]

Personal life

Arlen and his wife, Ellen, now reside in Burnsville, Minnesota. The couple had six children and thirteen grandchildren. His twin brother, Lowell O. Erdahl, is a former ELCA Synod Bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod.

References

External links

• Arlen Erdahl at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Arlen Erdahl photograph