Patricia Anderson

Patricia "Patti" Anderson (born June 4, 1966) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Anderson represents District 33A in the northeastern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Forest Lake, Hugo, and Mahtomedi and parts of Washington County.[1][2]

For other people with the same name, see Pat Anderson (disambiguation).

Patti Anderson
17th Auditor of Minnesota
In office
January 6, 2003 – January 2, 2007
GovernorTim Pawlenty
Preceded byJudi Dutcher
Succeeded byRebecca Otto
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 33A district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byBob Dettmer
Personal details
Born (1966-06-04) June 4, 1966
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDoug
Children6
Residence(s)Dellwood, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Minnesota (BA)
Hamline University (MA)
Profession
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Anderson served one term as the State Auditor of Minnesota, from 2003 to 2007, and ran unsuccessfully in 2006 and 2010. She is the most recent Republican to hold that office.[3] She was mayor of Eagan, Minnesota, and a national committeewoman for Minnesota to the Republican National Committee.[4]

Early life, education and career

Anderson graduated from Forest Lake Area High School and received a Bachelor of Arts in international relations and political economy from the University of Minnesota. She earned a Master of Arts in public administration from Hamline University.[1]

Anderson served as a city council member of Eagan, Minnesota, from 1991 to 1998, and as mayor from 1998 to 2002.[1] In 2002, City Pages named her the state's best mayor.[5]

From 2008 to 2009, Anderson served as president of the Minnesota Free Market Institute, a right-wing think tank. She said that as president she hoped to expand the institute by adding personnel and partnering with nonprofits with similar goals.[6] After Anderson left, the organization was merged into the Center of the American Experiment, last filing tax returns in 2011.[7][8]

State Auditor

Anderson was elected State Auditor of Minnesota on November 5, 2002. She ran after two term DFL incumbent Judi Dutcher announced she would not seek reelection, running unsuccessfully for governor of Minnesota. Anderson defeated DFL nominee, State Treasurer Carol Johnson, and the Independence Party nominee, Dave Hutcheson.[1]

Anderson was elected as Pat Awada, the name she had before her divorce in 2004.[1][9] During her term as auditor, Governor Tim Pawlenty called for cuts across the state budget, and Anderson cut staff, earning a reputation as a "taxpayer watchdog".[10][11]

Anderson ran for reelection in 2006, losing to the DFL nominee, State Representative Rebecca Otto.[12][1]

Commissioner of Employee Relations

In January 2007, Governor Pawlenty nominated Anderson to serve as Commissioner of Department of Employee Relations. Her responsibilities included the merger of that agency into the Department of Finance.[1][10]

2010 run for governor and state auditor

On July 15, 2009, Anderson announced that she was running for governor of Minnesota in the 2010 election, calling herself a "Libertarian-style Republican" who opposes corporate subsidies.[13] On January 12, 2010, Anderson announced that she was withdrawing from the governor's race to run for state auditor.[14] Anderson again lost to incumbent Rebecca Otto.[12]

Republican National Committeewoman

On April 16, 2011, Anderson was elected national committeewoman for Minnesota to the Republican National Committee to serve out the remaining term of Evie Axdahl, who retired.[4] On May 19, 2012, Janet Biehoffer defeated Anderson in her quest for a full term as a national committeewoman to the RNC.[15][16]

Shortly after being elected to the Republican National Committee, Anderson became a lobbyist for Canterbury Park Racetrack. At the time, the Minnesota Republican Party Platform opposed expanding gambling in Minnesota.[17] Many Republicans criticized Anderson for failing to disclose her intention to become a lobbyist for a gambling enterprise while running for the RNC.[18][19][20]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Anderson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. She first ran in 2018 after seven-term Republican incumbent Matt Dean announced he would not seek reelection to run for governor of Minnesota.[21] Anderson lost to DFL nominee Ami Wazlawik. Anderson ran again in 2022 and won, after redistricting and eight-term Republican incumbent Bob Dettmer announced he would not seek reelection.

Anderson serves on the Education Finance and Taxes Committees.[1]

Electoral history
2002 Republican Primary for Minnesota State Auditor[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patricia Anderson Awada 131,996 75.45
Republican Jual Carlos Carlson 42,956 24.55
Total votes 174,952 100.00
2002 Minnesota State Auditor[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patricia Anderson Awada 956,104 44.63
Democratic (DFL) Carol Johnson 941,129 43.93
Independence Dave Hutcheson 164,532 7.68
Green Dave Berger 78,611 3.67
Write-in 1,881 0.09
Total votes 2,142,257 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)
2006 Minnesota State Auditor[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Rebecca Otto 1,094,440 51.92
Republican Patricia Anderson (incumbent) 866,041 41.08
Independence Lucy Gerold 97,076 4.61
Green Dave Berger 49,131 2.33
Write-in 1,316 0.06
Total votes 2,108,004 100.00
Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican
2010 Minnesota State Auditor[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Rebecca Otto (incumbent) 981,822 48.39
Republican Patricia "Pat" Anderson 956,339 47.13
Green Annie Young 54,154 2.67
Grassroots—LC Kenny Kalligher 35,548 1.75
Write-in 1,224 0.06
Total votes 2,029,087 100.00
Democratic (DFL) hold
2018 Minnesota State House - District 38B[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Ami Wazlawik 11,573 50.81
Republican Patti Anderson 11,187 49.11
Write-in 19 0.08
Total votes 22,779 100.00
Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican
2022 Minnesota State House - District 33A[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patti Anderson 11,694 55.40
Democratic (DFL) Hanna Valento 9,404 44.55
Write-in 9 0.04
Total votes 21,107 100.00
Republican hold

Personal life

Anderson lives in Dellwood, Minnesota, with her spouse, Doug, and has six children.[1]

References
  1. "Anderson, Patti - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. "Rep. Patti Anderson (33A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  3. Golden, Erin (September 9, 2017). "Republican women consider runs for Minnesota office — but so far, few pulling trigger". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  4. "Minnesota GOP Elects Pat Anderson RNC National Committeewoman And Jeff Johnson RNC National Committeeman". 2012 Presidential Campaign Blog.
  5. Staff Reports (September 18, 2002). "Awada says school districts need to be accountable - Albert Lea Tribune". Albert Lea Tribune. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  6. Melo, Frederick (November 11, 2008). "Ex-auditor heads free market group". Pioneer Press.
  7. "Pat Anderson Bio « Minnesota Free Market Institute". Archived from the original on June 24, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  8. "2011 - 990 Tax Returns for Minnesota Free Market Institute" (PDF).
  9. Collins, Bob (November 4, 2008). "Who is Bob Anderson? Michele Bachmann's best friend". MPR News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  10. Salisbury, Bill (July 7, 2007). "Agency chief must make one layoff: herself". Pioneer Press. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  11. Bierschbach, Briana (August 14, 2021). "Julie Blaha brings 'fresh attitude' to building back State Auditor's Office". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  12. Kimball, Joe (August 20, 2013). "Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto says she'll run for a third term in 2014". MinnPost. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  13. The Associated Press (July 15, 2009). "Former auditor Anderson to run for governor". MPR News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  14. Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (January 12, 2010). "GOP's Anderson quits gov's race; says Coleman a factor". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  15. Bierschbach, Briana (May 20, 2012). "GOP activist Janet Beihoffer wins RNC Committeewoman race". Minnesota Lawyer.
  16. Scheck, Tom (May 19, 2012). "Beihoffer elected Republican National Committeewoman". MPR News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  17. Pugmire, Tim (April 26, 2011). "Pat Anderson now a racino lobbyist". MPR News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  18. Gilmore, John Hugh (April 29, 2011). "The Republican Party's Gambling Problem". Minnesota Conservatives.
  19. Bierschbach, Briana (April 27, 2011). "RNC committeewoman Pat Anderson at odds with party over gaming lobbying". Minnesota Lawyer.
  20. Bierschbach, Briana (May 16, 2012). "Gaming politics drive tight RNC race – Minnesota Lawyer". Minnesota Lawyer. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  21. Star Tribune Editorial Board (October 30, 2018). "EDITORIAL | Election endorsements: Our choices in House Districts 38B, 42A, 44B and 48A". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  22. "2002 Results for Minnesota State Auditor Primary". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  23. "2002 Results for Minnesota State Auditor". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  24. "2006 Results for Minnesota State Auditor". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  25. "2010 Results for Minnesota State Auditor". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  26. "2018 Results for State Representative District 38B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  27. "2022 Results for State Representative District 33A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
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