Mary Ellen Otremba
Encyclopedia
Mary Ellen Otremba is a Minnesota
politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
who represented District 11B, which includes portions of Douglas
and Todd
counties in the west central part of the state. A Democrat
, she is also a substitute teacher and farmer. On May 19, 2010, she announced that she would not seek an eighth term.
Otremba was first elected in a November 4, 1997, special election held after the death of her husband, Representative Ken Otremba
, that September. She chaired the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Committee, and was a member of the Ways and Means Committee. She also served on the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee for the Veterans Affairs Division, and on the Finance subcommittees for the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division and the Health Care and Human Services Finance Division. She was an assistant minority leader
from 2001-2004.
Otremba graduated from Long Prairie High School in Long Prairie
, then went on to the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph
, receiving a B.A.
in Home and Community Service. She later attended St. Cloud State University
in St. Cloud
, earning her M.A.
in Child and Family Studies. She worked as a nutritionist
for the Todd County Department of Public Health from 1984–1989, as a teacher in the Freshwater Educational District from 1986–1989, and as a teacher at Eagle Valley High School in Clarissa
from 1989-1997.
Prior to and during her first term in the Legislature, she taught Family and Consumer Science at Swanville High School in Swanville
, continuing today as a substitute teacher.
Otremba has been a member of the Minnesota Agriculture Education Advisory Board and the Rural Health Advisory Board since 2002. She is also active in various organizations and clubs in her local community.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
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...
who represented District 11B, which includes portions of Douglas
Douglas County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,821 people, 13,276 households, and 9,027 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile . There were 16,694 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
and Todd
Todd County, Minnesota
-External links:*...
counties in the west central part of the state. A 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...
, she is also a substitute teacher and farmer. On May 19, 2010, she announced that she would not seek an eighth term.
Otremba was first elected in a November 4, 1997, special election held after the death of her husband, Representative Ken Otremba
Ken Otremba
Ken Otremba was a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 11B, which includes portions of Douglas and Todd counties in the west central part of the state...
, that September. She chaired the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Committee, and was a member of the Ways and Means Committee. She also served on the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee for the Veterans Affairs Division, and on the Finance subcommittees for the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division and the Health Care and Human Services Finance Division. She was an assistant minority leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
from 2001-2004.
Otremba graduated from Long Prairie High School in Long Prairie
Long Prairie, Minnesota
At the 2000 census, there were 3,040 people, 1,229 households and 769 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,285.2 per square mile . There were 1,334 housing units at an average density of 564.0 per square mile...
, then went on to the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph
St. Joseph, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,681 people, 1,120 households, and 712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,517.4 people per square mile . There were 1,147 housing units at an average density of 616.8 per square mile...
, receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Home and Community Service. She later attended St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...
in St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
, earning her M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Child and Family Studies. She worked as a nutritionist
Nutritionist
A nutritionist is a person who advises on matters of food and nutrition impacts on health. Different professional terms are used in different countries, employment settings and contexts — some examples include: nutrition scientist, public health nutritionist, dietitian-nutritionist, clinical...
for the Todd County Department of Public Health from 1984–1989, as a teacher in the Freshwater Educational District from 1986–1989, and as a teacher at Eagle Valley High School in Clarissa
Clarissa, Minnesota
Clarissa is a city in Todd County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 681 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
from 1989-1997.
Prior to and during her first term in the Legislature, she taught Family and Consumer Science at Swanville High School in Swanville
Swanville, Minnesota
Swanville is a city in Morrison County, Minnesota, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Todd County. The population was 350 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, continuing today as a substitute teacher.
Otremba has been a member of the Minnesota Agriculture Education Advisory Board and the Rural Health Advisory Board since 2002. She is also active in various organizations and clubs in her local community.