Joanne Benson

Joanne E. Benson (born January 4, 1943) is an American politician and educator who served as the 44th lieutenant governor of Minnesota from January 3, 1995, to January 4, 1999. A Republican, she was elected as Arne Carlson's running mate. From 1991 to 1995, Benson served as a member of the Minnesota Senate.

For the Maryland state senator, see Joanne C. Benson.

Joanne E. Benson
44th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 4, 1999
GovernorArne Carlson
Preceded byJoanell Dyrstad
Succeeded byMae Schunk
Member of the Minnesota State Senate from the 16th district
In office
January 8, 1993 – January 2, 1995
Preceded byJoe Bertram
Succeeded byDave Kleis
Member of the Minnesota State Senate from the 17th district
In office
January 8, 1991 – January 8, 1993
Preceded byJim Pehler
Succeeded byRedistricted
Personal details
Born (1943-01-04) January 4, 1943
Le Sueur, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseRobert R. Benson
Children2
EducationSt. Cloud State University (BS)

Early life and education

Benson was born in Le Sueur, Minnesota. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from St. Cloud State University.[1]

Career

Benson was a member of the Minnesota Senate from 1991 to 1995.[2] She became lieutenant governor when she and Arne Carlson won the 1994 Minnesota gubernatorial election in a landslide.[3][4]

Benson later ran in the 1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election in the Republican primary for governor, starting off as the front-runner. Despite her attempt to amass enough support within the GOP establishment to ward off any primary challengers, a late entrant to the race, St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, garnered enough delegates to win the Republican endorsement at the state convention. Placing third in the race for delegates behind Coleman and Allen Quist, Benson agreed not to challenge Coleman in the primary. He won the nomination but lost the general election to the Reform Party nominee, Jesse Ventura.[5]

Upon leaving office in 1999, Benson became the first chief education officer of the Minnesota Business Academy. In that capacity, she worked with civic and state leaders to raise money for the school.[6] Benson was a member of the Governor’s State Capitol 2005 Commission, a group of prominent Minnesota citizens who were tasked with advising then-Governor Tim Pawlenty on the 2005 centennial celebration of the Minnesota State Capitol.[7][8]

Personal life

Benson is married to Robert R. Benson.[9] She has two children, six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren

See also

References
  1. "Benson, Joanne E. - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  2. "Lieutenant governor trivia". MPR News. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  3. Governor's (Minnesota) Commission on Violent Crimes: Final Report. DIANE Publishing. 1993. ISBN 978-1-56806-210-5.
  4. Lass, William E. (August 17, 2000). Minnesota: A History (Second Edition) (States and the Nation). W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0-393-34854-5.
  5. Elazar, Daniel Judah; Gray, Virginia; Spano, Wyman (January 1, 1999). Minnesota Politics and Government. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-6714-5.
  6. "School to revise the business of learning". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  7. "GOVERNOR PAWLENTY APPOINTS FIFTEEN TO CAPITOL 2005". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  8. "Governor's State Capitol 2005 Commission". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  9. Schier, Mary Lahr (1998). Take Your Victories As They Come: The Carlson Years in Minnesota Politics. M S P Communication. ISBN 978-0-9641908-3-2.
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