David Tomassoni

David Joseph Tomassoni (/tɒməˈsoʊni/ tom-ə-SOH-nee; December 5, 1952 – August 11, 2022) was an American politician who served in the Minnesota Legislature from 1993 to 2022. A former member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Tomassoni left the party to become independent in November 2020 and joined the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus.

Dave Tomassoni
President pro tempore of the Minnesota Senate
In office
January 5, 2021 – August 11, 2022
Preceded byMary Kiffmeyer
Succeeded byAnn Rest
14th President of the Minnesota Senate
In office
November 12, 2020 – January 7, 2021
Preceded byJeremy Miller
Succeeded byJeremy Miller
Member of the Minnesota Senate
In office
January 3, 2001 – August 11, 2022
Preceded byJerry Janezich
Succeeded byRobert Farnsworth (redistricted)
Constituency5th district (2001–2013)
6th district (2013–2022)
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 5B district
In office
January 5, 1993 – January 2, 2001
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byTony Sertich
Personal details
Born
David Joseph Tomassoni

(1952-12-05)December 5, 1952
Bemidji, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedAugust 11, 2022(2022-08-11) (aged 69)
Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (before 2020)
Independent (2020–2022)
SpouseCharlotte
Children3
EducationUniversity of Denver (BS)

Tomassoni chaired the Senate Economic Development Committee from 2007 to 2010. He then chaired the Environment, Economic Development and Agriculture Finance Division, co-chaired the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), and chaired the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) four times. Tomassoni was also vice chair of the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission.

Early life, education, and career

Tomassoni was born in Bemidji, Minnesota. He graduated from Chisholm High School in Chisholm, Minnesota and received a BSBA from the University of Denver. Tomassoni played professional hockey in Italy for 16 years and for the Italian national team at the 1984 Winter Olympics.[1][2]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Tomassoni represented District 5B in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001. He served as an assistant majority leader from 1997 to 2001.[1]

Minnesota Senate

Tomassoni was elected to the Senate in 2000 and reelected in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2020. He was a majority whip from 2001 to 2007.[1]

President of the Minnesota Senate

Tomassoni was elected president of the Minnesota Senate on November 12, 2020, in a rare event where the Senate's Republican majority supported a member of the DFL for Senate president. The move was seen as strategic, given that the slim Republican majority in the Senate could be lost if the Senate president became lieutenant governor.[3] That happened in 2018, when Senate President Michelle Fischbach became lieutenant governor after Tina Smith was appointed to the U.S. Senate.

Three weeks after the 2020 elections, when it was determined that the DFL had not won a Senate majority, Tomassoni and Senator Thomas Bakk announced they had left the DFL to form their own "Independent Caucus." Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka welcomed the move and made Tomassoni chair of the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee in exchange for voting with Republicans on floor votes. This changed the Senate's composition to 34 Republicans, 31 Democrats, and two independents.[4]

Electoral history
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2020[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 25,557 57.04 -5.65pp
Republican John J. Moren 19,191 42.83 +5.65pp
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2016[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 26,260 62.69 -8.89pp
Republican Skeeter Tomczak 15,555 37.13 +8.89pp
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2012[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 30,882 71.58 +1.87pp
Republican Brandon Anderson 12,220 28.32 -1.87pp
Minnesota Senate 5th district election, 2010[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 22,322 69.71 -8.12pp
Republican Matt Matasich 9,666 30.19 +8.09pp
Minnesota Senate 5th district election, 2006[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 26,143 77.83 +0.84pp
Republican Matt Matasich 7,422 22.10 -0.81pp
Minnesota Senate 5th district election, 2002[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 27,372 76.99
Republican Matt Matasich 8,147 22.91

Personal life and death

Tomassoni and his wife, Charlotte, have three children and lived in Chisholm, Minnesota. He was involved in the insurance business.[1] In July 2021, Tomassoni announced he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[11]

Tomassoni died of ALS at a hospice in Duluth, Minnesota, on August 11, 2022.[12]

References
  1. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present – Legislator Record – Tomassoni, David J". Venus.library.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "David Tomassoni Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  3. "Anticipating Biden election fallout, Republicans tap DFLer as Minnesota Senate president". November 12, 2020.
  4. "Longtime Minnesota senators quit DFL caucus to form Independent Caucus". November 18, 2020.
  5. "Results for State Senator District 6, 2020". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  6. "Results for State Senator District 6, 2016". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  7. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2012". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  8. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2010". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  9. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2006". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  10. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2002". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  11. Sen. Tomassoni on figuring out how to move forward with ALS
  12. Karnowski, Steve (August 12, 2022). "Iron Range Sen. David Tomassoni dies of ALS complications". AP News. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
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