Paul Torkelson

Paul Torkelson
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 21B district
Incumbent
Assumed office
2009
Preceded by Brad Finstad
Personal details
Born 1952
Political party Republican Party of Minnesota
Spouse(s) Cindy
Children 2
Residence St. James, Minnesota
Alma mater Gustavus Adolphus College
Profession farmer, teacher, legislator
Religion Lutheran

Paul M. Torkelson (born 1952) is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 21B, which includes all or portions of Brown, Redwood and Watonwan counties in the southwestern part of the state. A Republican, he is also a fourth-generation Watonwan County corn, soybean and pork farmer, with family roots in the area since 1878, and a former music teacher.[1][2]

Torkelson was elected in 2008, opting to run for the seat after incumbent Republican representative Brad Finstad of Comfrey decided not to seek re-election. He was re-elected in 2010, running unopposed.[3] He is currently a member of the House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee. He also serves on the Finance subcommittees for the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division, the Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division, the Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division, and the Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division.[4]

Torkelson attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, earning his B.A. in Instrumental Music Education in 1974. In 2006, Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed him to the Minnesota Governor’s Clean Water Council, a position he held until his election to the House. He is a member of the Minnesota's Deer Hunters Association, a former vice president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau, and a former chair of St. James Health Services.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=15304
  2. ^ http://paultorkelson.com/about.html
  3. ^ http://news.blog.gustavus.edu/2010/11/03/five-alumni-elected-to-state-legislature/
  4. ^ http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=15304
  5. ^ http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=109197
  6. ^ http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=15304

External links

Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
   
  1. A.   Dan Fabian (R)
    B.   Debra Kiel (R)
  2. A.   Kent Eken (DFL)
    B.   David Hancock (R)
  3. A.   Tom Anzelc (DFL)
    B.   Carolyn McElfatrick (R)
  4. A.   John Persell (DFL)
    B.   Larry Howes (R)
  5. A.   Tom Rukavina (DFL)
    B.   Carly Melin (DFL)
  6. A.   David Dill (DFL)
    B.   Mary Murphy (DFL)
  7. A.   Thomas Huntley (DFL)
    B.   Kerry Gauthier (DFL)
  8. A.   Bill Hilty (DFL)
    B.   Roger Crawford (R)
  9. A.   Morrie Lanning (R)
    B.   Paul Marquart (DFL)
  10. A.   Bud Nornes (R)
    B.   Mark Murdock (R)
  11. A.   Torrey Westrom (R)
    B.   Mary Franson (R)
  12. A.   John Ward (DFL)
    B.   Mike LeMieur (R)
  13. A.   Paul Anderson (R)
    B.   Bruce Vogel (R)
  14. A.   Tim O'Driscoll (R)
    B.   Larry Hosch (DFL)
  1. A.   Steve Gottwalt (R)
    B.   King Banaian (R)
  2. A.   Sondra Erickson (R)
    B.   Mary Kiffmeyer (R)
  3. A.   Kurt Daudt (R)
    B.   Bob Barrett (R)
  4. A.   Ron Shimanski (R)
    B.   Dean Urdahl (R)
  5. A.   Bruce Anderson (R)
    B.   Joe McDonald (R)
  6. A.   Andrew Falk (DFL)
    B.   Lyle Koenen (DFL)
  7. A.   Chris Swedzinski (R)
    B.   Paul Torkelson (R)
  8. A.   Joe Schomacker (R)
    B.   Rod Hamilton (R)
  9. A.   Terry Morrow (DFL)
    B.   Kathy Brynaert (DFL)
  10. A.   Bob Gunther (R)
    B.   Tony Cornish (R)
  11. A.   Glenn Gruenhagen (R)
    B.   Kelby Woodard (R)
  12. A.   Kory Kath (DFL)
    B.   Patti Fritz (DFL)
  13. A.   Rich Murray (R)
    B.   Jeanne Poppe (DFL)
  14. A.   Tim Kelly (R)
    B.   Steve Drazkowski (R)
  1. A.   Duane Quam (R)
    B.   Kim Norton (DFL)
  2. A.   Tina Liebling (DFL)
    B.   Mike Benson (R)
  3. A.   Gene Pelowski (DFL)
    B.   Greg Davids (R)
  4. A.   Joyce Peppin (R)
    B.   Kurt Zellers (R)
  5. A.   Steve Smith (R)
    B.   Connie Doepke (R)
  6. A.   Ernie Leidiger (R)
    B.   Joe Hoppe (R)
  7. A.   Michael Beard (R)
    B.   Mark Buesgens (R)
  8. A.   Mary Liz Holberg (R)
    B.   Pat Garofalo (R)
  9. A.   Tara Mack (R)
    B.   Kurt Bills (R)
  10. A.   Diane Anderson (R)
    B.   Doug Wardlow (R)
  11. A.   Rick Hansen (DFL)
    B.   Joe Atkins (DFL)
  12. A.   Pam Myhra (R)
    B.   Ann Lenczewski (DFL)
  13. A.   Keith Downey (R)
    B.   Pat Mazorol (R)
  14. A.   Kirk Stensrud (R)
    B.   Jenifer Loon (R)
  1. A.   Sarah Anderson (R)
    B.   John Benson (DFL)
  2. A.   Steve Simon (DFL)
    B.   Ryan Winkler (DFL)
  3. A.   Sandra Peterson (DFL)
    B.   Lyndon Carlson (DFL)
  4. A.   Michael Nelson (DFL)
    B.   Debra Hilstrom (DFL)
  5. A.   Denise Dittrich (DFL)
    B.   Melissa Hortman (DFL)
  6. A.   Tom Hackbarth (R)
    B.   Jim Abeler (R)
  7. A.   Peggy Scott (R)
    B.   Branden Petersen (R)
  8. A.   Carolyn Laine (DFL)
    B.   Kate Knuth (DFL)
  9. A.   Tim Sanders (R)
    B.   Tom Tillberry (DFL)
  10. A.   Bob Dettmer (R)
    B.   Matt Dean (R)
  11. A.   Linda Runbeck (R)
    B.   Carol McFarlane (R)
  12. A.   Mindy Greiling (DFL)
    B.   Bev Scalze (DFL)
  13. A.   Leon Lillie (DFL)
    B.   Nora Slawik (DFL)
  14. A.   Kathy Lohmer (R)
    B.   Andrea Kieffer (R)
  1. A.   John Kriesel (R)
    B.   Denny McNamara (R)
  2. A.   Joe Mullery (DFL)
    B.   Bobby Joe Champion (DFL)
  3. A.   Diane Loeffler (DFL)
    B.   Phyllis Kahn (DFL)
  4. A.   Marion Greene (DFL)
    B.   Frank Hornstein (DFL)
  5. A.   Karen Clark (DFL)
    B.   vacant
  6. A.   Jim Davnie (DFL)
    B.   Jean Wagenius (DFL)
  7. A.   Paul Thissen (DFL)
    B.   Linda Slocum (DFL)
  8. A.   Erin Murphy (DFL)
    B.   Michael Paymar (DFL)
  9. A.   Rena Moran (DFL)
    B.   Carlos Mariani (DFL)
  10. A.   John Lesch (DFL)
    B.   Alice Hausman (DFL)
  11. A.   Tim Mahoney (DFL)
    B.   Sheldon Johnson (DFL)