Darrel Peterson
Encyclopedia
Darrel L. Peterson was a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
and the Minnesota Senate
.
, Peterson grew up and farmed in the area, graduating from East Chain High School and, later, the University of Minnesota
, from which he earned a B.S.
in Agriculture
. Prior to running for the House and Senate, he had been a member of the Fairmont and the East Chain school boards.
, Peterson was first elected to the House in 1974, representing the old District 27B, and was re-elected in 1976. In 1980, he ran for the Senate, defeating incumbent Democrat
Howard Olson
. He was re-elected in 1982. He represented the old Senate districts 27 and 29, changing somewhat after the 1982 legislative redistricting
. During his time in the legislature, he served all or portions of Blue Earth
, Cottonwood
, Faribault
, Freeborn
, Jackson
, Martin
, Nobles
, Waseca
and Watonwan
counties in the southern part of the state.
Peterson was a member of the Commerce and Economic Development, Education, Health and Welfare, Labor-Management Relations, and Taxes committees in the House. Later, in the Senate, he was a member of the Education, Elections and Ethics, Energy and Housing, Judiciary, Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries, Taxes and Tax Laws committees. He also served on the Legislative Commission on Public Education.
While in the Senate, Peterson also served on the Education subcommittees for Education Aids, for Educational Operation and Governance and for Post-Secondary and Higher Education, of the Energy and Housing Subcommittee for Research and Alternative Financing, of the Judiciary subcommittees for Criminal Law and for Judicial Administration, of the Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries Subcommittee for Public Utilities, and of the Taxes and Tax Laws subcommittees for Agricultural Property Tax and for Natural Resources Tax. His special legislative concerns included education, agriculture, and job development.
appointed Peterson to be a commissioner on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
. He was a member of the commission until 1992, serving as its chair from 1990 to 1992.
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
and the Minnesota Senate
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
.
Background
Born in FairmontFairmont, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,889 people and 2,962 families residing in the city. The population density was 747.5 people per square mile . There were 5,036 housing units at an average density of 345.7 per square mile...
, Peterson grew up and farmed in the area, graduating from East Chain High School and, later, the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, from which he earned a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Prior to running for the House and Senate, he had been a member of the Fairmont and the East Chain school boards.
Service in the Minnesota House and Senate
A RepublicanRepublican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
, Peterson was first elected to the House in 1974, representing the old District 27B, and was re-elected in 1976. In 1980, he ran for the Senate, defeating incumbent Democrat
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
Howard Olson
Howard Olson
Howard D. Olson was a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate.A Democrat, Olson was first elected in 1970, and was re-elected in 1972 and 1976. During his first six years, he caucused with the Liberal Caucus, as the Minnesota Legislature was officially nonpartisan until 1976...
. He was re-elected in 1982. He represented the old Senate districts 27 and 29, changing somewhat after the 1982 legislative redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
. During his time in the legislature, he served all or portions of Blue Earth
Blue Earth County, Minnesota
Blue Earth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 64,013. Its county seat is Mankato.Blue Earth County is part of the Mankato–North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Cottonwood
Cottonwood County, Minnesota
Cottonwood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 11,687. Its county seat is Windom.-History:...
, Faribault
Faribault County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,181 people, 6,652 households, and 4,476 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile . There were 7,247 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
, Freeborn
Freeborn County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,584 people, 13,356 households, and 9,015 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile . There were 13,996 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, Jackson
Jackson County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,268 people, 4,556 households, and 3,116 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile . There were 5,092 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile...
, Martin
Martin County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,802 people, 9,067 households, and 6,047 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 9,800 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
, Nobles
Nobles County, Minnesota
Nobles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 21,378. Its county seat is Worthington.-Geography:...
, Waseca
Waseca County, Minnesota
-External links:**...
and Watonwan
Watonwan County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,876 people, 4,627 households, and 3,141 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 5,036 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
counties in the southern part of the state.
Peterson was a member of the Commerce and Economic Development, Education, Health and Welfare, Labor-Management Relations, and Taxes committees in the House. Later, in the Senate, he was a member of the Education, Elections and Ethics, Energy and Housing, Judiciary, Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries, Taxes and Tax Laws committees. He also served on the Legislative Commission on Public Education.
While in the Senate, Peterson also served on the Education subcommittees for Education Aids, for Educational Operation and Governance and for Post-Secondary and Higher Education, of the Energy and Housing Subcommittee for Research and Alternative Financing, of the Judiciary subcommittees for Criminal Law and for Judicial Administration, of the Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries Subcommittee for Public Utilities, and of the Taxes and Tax Laws subcommittees for Agricultural Property Tax and for Natural Resources Tax. His special legislative concerns included education, agriculture, and job development.
Appointment to Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
In 1986, Governor Rudy PerpichRudy Perpich
Rudolph George "Rudy" Perpich, Sr. was an American politician and the longest-serving governor of Minnesota. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, he served as the 34th and 36th Governor of Minnesota from December 29, 1976 to January 4, 1979, and from January 3, 1983, to January 7, 1991...
appointed Peterson to be a commissioner on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is the consumer protection agency in the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with the regulation of public utilities such as electric and telephone service. Its commissioners are appointed by the governor....
. He was a member of the commission until 1992, serving as its chair from 1990 to 1992.