| Sean Nienow | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 17th District | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Rick Olseen |
| Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 17th district |
|
| In office January 7, 2003 – January 2, 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Twyla Ring |
| Succeeded by | Rick Olseen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 9, 1968 Anoka, Minnesota |
| Political party | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Spouse(s) | Cyndy |
| Children | 8 |
| Residence | Cambridge, Minnesota |
| Alma mater | Northwestern College |
| Occupation | consultant, legislator |
Sean Robert Nienow (born March 9, 1968) is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 17, which includes all or portions of Anoka, Chisago and Isanti counties in the northeastern part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.[1][2]
A Republican, he previously served in the Senate from 2003 to 2007 before being unseated by Democrat Rick Olseen in the 2006 general election. He successfully challenged Olseen for his old seat in the 2010 general election, garnering 56.01% of the vote to Olseen's 43.83%.[3][4]
Nienow is vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and is also a member of the Agriculture and Rural Economies, the Education, and the Health and Human Services committees.[5] During his previous term in the Senate, he served on the Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming, the Environment and Natural Resources, the Finance, and the Health and Family Security committees, and on the Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee for Game and Fish, the Finance Subcommittee for the Early Childhood Policy and Budget Division, and the Finance Subcommittee for the K-12 Education Budget Division.[6] His special legislative concerns include education, jobs, health care, and transportation.[7]
Nienow grew up in Stacy, graduated from Chadashchay High School, then went on to Northwestern College in Roseville, where he majored in Business and Psychology. He also served as a major in the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. Prior to his first term in the Senate, he worked for American Express Financial Advisers for 14 years. He currently works as a process consultant and adviser.[8][9]