| Tom Hackbarth | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 48A district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1999 |
|
| Preceded by | Kathleen Sekhon |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 50A district |
|
| In office 1995–1997 |
|
| Preceded by | Kathleen Sekhon |
| Succeeded by | Kathleen Sekhon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 28, 1951 Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Political party | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Spouse(s) | Mary |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Cedar, Minnesota |
| Alma mater | North Hennepin Community College |
| Profession | salesman, firefighter, legislator |
| Religion | Catholic |
Thomas M. "Tom" Hackbarth (born December 28, 1951) is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 48A, which includes portions of Anoka and Sherburne counties in the northern part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. A Republican, he is also a retired salesman in the automotive parts industry.[1]
Hackbarth was first elected in 1994 and served one term. He ran again in 1998, was elected, and has been re-elected every two years since then. Prior to the 2002 legislative redistricting, he represented the old District 50A. He is a member of the House Environment Policy and Oversight Committee and the Finance Committee. He also serves on the Environment Policy and Oversight Subcommittee for the Game, Fish and Forestry Division, and on the Finance subcommittees for the Energy Finance and Policy Division and the Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division, on which he is the ranking minority party member.[2] He chaired the Environment and Natural Resources Committee from 2003-2006.[1]
Hackbarth was slated to chair the House Enironment, Energy and Natural Resources Committee for the legislative session beginning in 2011. The House Republican Party caucus reneged on the chairmanship after an incident on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.[3][4] On that date, Hackbarth was questioned and briefly detained by police who found him with a loaded gun, for which he had a permit to carry, acting suspiciously in a Planned Parenthood parking lot in St. Paul, Minnesota. Hackbarth stated he was looking for a girlfriend whom he had recently met through an online dating site.[5]
Hackbarth is a key proponent of building a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. On October 5, 2009, he announced a renewal of the effort to build a Vikings stadium without increasing taxes on Minnesota citizens. The plan proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing the use of revenue from the addition of slot machines at existing Twin Cities area horse racing facilities for Vikings stadium funding.[6]
Hackbarth graduated from Anoka High School in Anoka, and then attended North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park. He has been a firefighter for the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department since 1983.[7]