Paul Anderson (Minnesota state representative)

Paul H. Anderson (born June 15, 1951) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2009. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Anderson represents District 12A in central Minnesota, which includes the cities of Morris and Benson and portions of Big Stone, Pope, Stearns, Stevens and Swift Counties.[1][2]

Paul Anderson
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 12A district
Assumed office
January 6, 2009
Preceded byBud Heidgerken
Personal details
Born (1951-06-15) June 15, 1951
Starbuck, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseFaith
Children3
Residence(s)Starbuck, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Minnesota Morris (BA)
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Early education and career

Born in Starbuck, Minnesota, Anderson attended Starbuck High School. He graduated from the University of Minnesota, Morris, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in physical education and education.[1]

Before running for the House, Anderson served as a Pope County commissioner, a member of the Starbuck School Board, and a Starbuck township officer.[1] He is a fourth-generation farmer, and operates a 700-acre farm near Starbuck.[3][4][5]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Anderson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2008 and has been reelected every two years since. He first ran after three-term Republican incumbent Bud Heidgerken announced he would not seek reelection.[1]

Anderson serves as the minority lead on the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee and also sits on the Property Tax Division and the Sustainable Infrastructure Policy Committee. From 2015 to 2018, Anderson served as chair of the Agriculture Policy Committee. From 2011 to 2012, he was vice chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.[1]

Agriculture

In 2015, after being named Agriculture Policy chair, Anderson supported scaling back environmental regulations and protections, citing opposition from agricultural businesses.[6] As chair, Anderson was often at odds with Governor Mark Dayton, opposing the administration's additional rules and regulations.[7][8][9] In 2017, Dayton vetoed the omnibus agriculture finance bill because of a provision that exempts farmers from stricter pesticide label regulations, and was criticized by House and Senate Republican agriculture chairs.[10] In 2018, Anderson supported efforts to delay a state rule aimed at reducing groundwater contamination by farm fertilizers.[11]

Anderson has advocated for stronger farm safety measures, even stating his openness to expanding regulations on small farms.[3][12] He authored legislation to give farmers rebates to equip tractors with roll bars to reduce accidents.[13]

Anderson has called for year-round E15 ethanol access.[14] He has spoken out against foreign tariffs from China on Minnesota agricultural exports like soybeans and pork.[15]

Anderson opposed a provision allowing Minnesota's four largest cities regulate pesticides, saying, "it's a solution looking for a problem."[16] He has opposed efforts to increase regulations on pesticides meant to protect pollinators.[17][18]

Other political positions

In 2011, Anderson sponsored legislation to have the state subsidize two-thirds of the cost of a $900 million dollar Minnesota Vikings stadium.[19] He stated his openness to supporting Representative Matt Dean's plan to eliminate MinnesotaCare, a public health care program.[20] He introduced legislation that would exempt a zoo in his district from state wildlife law despite their less strict accreditation status.[21]

Electoral history
2008 Minnesota State House - District 13A[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Anderson 11,422 58.35
Democratic (DFL) Bruce Shuck 8,128 41.52
Write-in 24 0.12
Total votes 19,574 100.0
Republican hold
2010 Minnesota State House - District 13A[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Anderson (incumbent) 12,759 98.44
Write-in 202 1.56
Total votes 12,961 100.0
Republican hold
2012 Minnesota State House - District 12B[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Anderson (incumbent) 13,043 66.33
Democratic (DFL) Rick Rosenfield 6,611 33.62
Write-in 11 0.06
Total votes 19,665 100.0
Republican hold
2014 Minnesota State House - District 12B[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Anderson (incumbent) 9,920 67.84
Democratic (DFL) Gordon (Gordy) Wagner 4,694 32.10
Write-in 8 0.05
Total votes 14,622 100.0
Republican hold
2016 Minnesota State House - District 12B[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Anderson (incumbent) 18,276 98.23
Write-in 330 1.77
Total votes 18,686 100.0
Republican hold
2018 Minnesota State House - District 12B[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Anderson (incumbent) 12,219 71.33
Democratic (DFL) Ben Schirmers 4,894 28.57
Write-in 17 0.10
Total votes 17,130 100.0
Republican hold
2020 Minnesota State House - District 12B[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Anderson (incumbent) 17,151 75.01
Democratic (DFL) Ben Schirmers 5,697 24.92
Write-in 17 0.07
Total votes 22,865 100.0
Republican hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 12A[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Anderson (incumbent) 13,281 71.07
Democratic (DFL) Edie Barrett 5,388 28.83
Write-in 18 0.10
Total votes 18,687 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life

Anderson lives in Starbuck, Minnesota, with his spouse, Faith, and has three children. Former legislator Delbert F. Anderson is his first cousin once removed.[1]

References
  1. "Anderson, Paul H. - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  2. "Rep. Paul Anderson (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  3. Meitrodt, Jeffrey (November 21, 2015). "Minnesota hopes to replicate Wisconsin's record on farm safety". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  4. Schneider, Renée Jones (October 7, 2015). "In Washington, lives are saved when farm rules are enforced". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  5. Nehil, Tom (February 19, 2016). "The fall of the farmer, the rise of the full-timer, and other trends in the side-gigs of the Minnesota Legislature". MinnPost. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  6. Coolican, J. Patrick (January 26, 2015). "Minnesota environmentalists back on their heels after election defeat". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  7. Star Tribune Editorial Board (March 9, 2018). "EDITORIAL | Safe drinking water must be a shared value in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  8. Marcotty, Josephine (March 18, 2018). "Dayton defends plan to protect drinking water from ag pollution". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  9. Meersman, Tom (May 9, 2018). "Farmers urge Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders to provide tax credits for buffer property". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  10. Pugmire, Tim (May 12, 2017). "Dayton, GOP squabble over vetoed farm issues". MPR News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  11. Dunbar, Elizabeth (June 11, 2018). "Legislature formally delays Dayton's nitrogen rule". MPR News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  12. Meitrodt, Jeffrey (June 8, 2016). "Minnesota takes big step to improve safety on farms". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  13. Meitrodt, Jeffrey (February 27, 2016). "Bills introduced to encourage farmers to add roll bars to tractors". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  14. Anderson, Paul (April 17, 2022). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Year-round E15 access must be permanent". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  15. Spencer, Jim; Meersman, Tom (April 5, 2018). "Minnesota has millions at stake as China targets soybeans". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  16. Belz, Adam; Coolican, J. Patrick (May 2, 2019). "Landscapers, pest control firms lash out at Minnesota bill that lets 4 cities enforce pesticide rules". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  17. Gunderson, Dan (March 29, 2017). "Pollinator protections facing obstacles at Capitol". MPR News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  18. Gunderson, Dan (March 14, 2017). "Attempt to regulate seeds harming pollinators rejected". MPR News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  19. Pugmire, Tim (April 12, 2011). "Stadium opponents lining up". MPR News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  20. Richert, Catharine (April 1, 2015). "Some Republicans not sold on eliminating MN Care". MPR News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  21. Orenstein, Walker (March 28, 2022). "More monkey business? Legislature weighs what kind of facilities can have large animals, primates in Minnesota". MinnPost. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  22. "2008 Results for State Representative District 13A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  23. "2010 Results for State Representative District 13A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  24. "2012 Results for State Representative District 12B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  25. "2014 Results for State Representative District 12B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  26. "2016 Results for State Representative District 12B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  27. "2018 Results for State Representative District 12B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  28. "2020 Results for State Representative District 12B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  29. "2022 Results for State Representative District 12A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 13, 2023.


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