Harold LeVander

Karl Harold Phillip LeVander (October 10, 1910 – March 30, 1992) was an American politician. He served as the 32nd Governor of Minnesota from January 2, 1967 to January 4, 1971 as a Republican, having defeated incumbent Karl Rolvaag, a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), in the 1966 election.

LeVander was born in Swede Home, Nebraska (near Stromsburg, Polk County) and attended high school in Watertown, Minnesota. He graduated in 1932 from Gustavus Adolphus College, and then attended the University of Minnesota Law School. After graduation he worked as assistant county attorney for Dakota County, from 1935–1939. He married Iantha LeVander, the daughter of William Robert and Kathleen (Graham) Powrie, in 1938, and they raised a family of three.^[1]

LeVander also worked for the law firm of Stassen & Ryan, located in South St. Paul, while teaching speech and coaching debate at Macalester College. He was also active in local commerce, acting as President of South Saint Paul's Chamber of Commerce from 1952 to 1954 and as President of the South Saint Paul United Federal Savings and Loan Association from 1953 until 1967. He was politically connected, having worked with future Governor (1939–43) Harold Stassen and future U.S. Representative (1935–41) Elmer Ryan in their law firm.

LeVander took the governorship in 1967, and for the first time since 1953, the Republicans held the governorship and both houses of the legislature: the Minnesota State Senate (45–22), and the Minnesota House (93–42). During his term the first Minnesota sales tax was created. He favored "initiative and referendum" and vetoed two bills that did not contain it. He also created the Metropolitan Council, the state Pollution Control Agency, and the inaugural Human Rights Department. During his term, the legislature ratified the Twenty-sixth Amendment, which lowered the minimum voting age nationwide to eighteen.

In a surprise move in 1970, LeVander declined to seek reelection, returning to his law practice and business interests, becoming a director of The St. Paul Companies (1973–1981), the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (1974–1981), and the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce (1975–1978).

References

• Minnesota Historical Society

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