Paul Gazelka

Paul E. Gazelka (born October 1, 1959) is an American politician serving as the majority leader of the Minnesota Senate. A Republican, Gazelka represents District 9, which includes communities in Cass, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties in the north central part of the state. He previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Paul Gazelka
Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byTom Bakk
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 9th district
12th (2011–2013)
Assumed office
January 4, 2011
Preceded byPaul Koering
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 12A district
In office
January 4, 2005 – January 2, 2007
Preceded byDale Walz
Succeeded byJohn Ward
Personal details
Born (1959-10-01) October 1, 1959
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Maralee
Children5
EducationOral Roberts University (BA)

Early life and education

Gazelka was born in St. Paul, Minnesota where he lived until age 15. At that time, his family moved to Virginia, Minnesota, a city on the state's Mesabi Iron Range, where he attended Roosevelt High School. [1] He attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in business management.

Career

He worked in various capacities with State Farm Insurance through the years, including as an agent, manager, and field executive. Gazelka has served on the local Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, school board, and as a volunteer for Teen Challenge and Habitat for Humanity.[2][1] Gazelka owns and operates an insurance agency in Baxter.[3] He is also an author.[4]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Gazelka previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2007, where he represented portions of Crow Wing County, including the city of Brainerd. During his term, he served as vice chair of the Commerce and Financial Institutions Committee, in addition to serving on the Jobs and Economic Opportunity Policy Finance Committee, the Transportation Committee, and the Commerce and Financial Institutions Subcommittee for the Tourism Division.[3] Gazelka was defeated for re-election in 2006.[4]

Minnesota Senate

Gazelka was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2010, defeating incumbent Republican Senator Paul Koering in an August primary election, and his Democratic challenger in the November general election.[5][6] Following redistricting, Gazelka was placed in Senate District 9. He was re-elected to the Senate in 2012 and 2016.[7] Following the 2016 election, which saw Republicans re-gain a majority in the Senate, Gazelka was elected by his caucus to be majority leader.[8]

Personal life

Gazelka and his wife, Maralee, live in Nisswa, Minnesota. They have five children.[1]

References
  1. Bierschbach, Briana. "The softest voice in the room: How Paul Gazelka became the Legislature's most important player". MinnPost. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-02-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Gazelka, Paul - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.leg.state.mn.us.
  4. Lopez, Ricardo. "New state Senate leader fervent in faith, measured in approach". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
  5. "Senator Paul E. Gazelka (R) District 09". www.senate.leg.state.mn.us.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2011-02-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Gazelka, Kresha head to DFL-controlled legislature". Morrison County Record. November 9, 2012.
  8. "Senate Republicans choose Sen. Paul Gazelka to lead new majority - Minnesota Senate Republicans". Minnesota Senate Republicans. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
Minnesota Senate
Preceded by
Tom Bakk		 Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
2017–present		 Incumbent
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