Paul Torkelson
Encyclopedia
Paul M. Torkelson is a Minnesota
politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
representing District 21B, which includes all or portions of Brown
, Redwood
and Watonwan
counties in the southwestern part of the state. A Republican
, he is also a fourth-generation Watonwan County corn, soybean and pork farmer, with family roots in the area since 1878, and a former music teacher.
Torkelson was elected in 2008, opting to run for the seat after incumbent Republican representative Brad Finstad of Comfrey
decided not to seek re-election. He was re-elected in 2010, running unopposed. He is currently a member of the House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee. He also serves on the Finance subcommittees for the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division, the Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division, the Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division, and the Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division.
Torkelson attended Gustavus Adolphus College
in St. Peter
, earning his B.A.
in Instrumental Music Education in 1974. In 2006, Governor Tim Pawlenty
appointed him to the Minnesota Governor’s Clean Water Council, a position he held until his election to the House. He is a member of the Minnesota's Deer Hunters Association, a former vice president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau, and a former chair of St. James Health Services.
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 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...
representing District 21B, which includes all or portions of Brown
Brown County, Minnesota
Brown County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 25,893. Its county seat is New Ulm.-Geography:...
, Redwood
Redwood County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,815 people, 6,674 households, and 4,524 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile . There were 7,230 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
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 southwestern part of the state. A Republican
Republican 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:...
, he is also a fourth-generation Watonwan County corn, soybean and pork farmer, with family roots in the area since 1878, and a former music teacher.
Torkelson was elected in 2008, opting to run for the seat after incumbent Republican representative Brad Finstad of Comfrey
Comfrey, Minnesota
For the plant, see ComfreyComfrey is a city in Brown and Cottonwood counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 382 at the 2010 census...
decided not to seek re-election. He was re-elected in 2010, running unopposed. He is currently a member of the House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee. He also serves on the Finance subcommittees for the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division, the Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division, the Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division, and the Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division.
Torkelson attended Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in St. Peter, Minnesota, United States. A coeducational, four-year, residential institution, it was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans. To this day the school is firmly...
in St. Peter
St. Peter, Minnesota
St. Peter is a city in Nicollet County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,196 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nicollet County.St...
, earning his 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 Instrumental Music Education in 1974. In 2006, Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
appointed him to the Minnesota Governor’s Clean Water Council, a position he held until his election to the House. He is a member of the Minnesota's Deer Hunters Association, a former vice president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau, and a former chair of St. James Health Services.