Minnesota Legislature

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Persell, Jr., John Sterling

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2009-2012 (District 4A); House 2013-2016 (District 5A); House 2019-2020 (District 5A)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: ??/??/1950

Birth Place: ,

Birth County:

Birth Country:

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion:

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Bemidji

Occupation (when first elected): Government/Former Environmental Specialist, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

EDUCATION

Battle Creek High School, Iowa; Secondary;
Bemidji State University; B.S.; Biology Major, Chemistry Minor

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

County Board/Commissioner: Beltrami County, Minnesota (Soil and Water Conservation Board); [Dates Unknown] [Elected]

Military: United States Air Force; [Dates Unknown]

Municipal Board/Commission: Frohn, Minnesota (Township Board of Supervisors); [Dates Unknown] [Elected]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Patty Jean Wilson (she died in September 2007, before he served); Widower; listed as married in 2012 Election Directory.
Children: Eight children: John Sterling III, Allisa, and Dacia
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He grew up in Battle Creek, Iowa.

Click to view

Total Days Served: 3647

SESSIONS SERVED

91st Legislative Session (2019-2020)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 05A

Elected: 11/6/2018

Residence: Bemidji

Term of Office: 1/8/2019 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca

Occupation: Policy Analyst

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2019 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2019 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
2020 3rd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 3rd Sp.S. - Author
2020 4th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 4th Sp.S. - Author
2020 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Policy (Chair) Minutes
Labor Minutes
Ways & Means: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes
Ways & Means: Greater Minnesota Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division Minutes
Ways & Means: Veterans and Military Affairs Finance & Policy Division Minutes

Session Notes: His margin of victory over Matt Bliss was only 8 votes so a recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 11 votes.

Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

Click to view

89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 05A

Elected: 11/4/2014

Residence: Bemidji

Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca

Occupation: Policy Analyst

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2015 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment & Natural Resources Policy & Finance Minutes
Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
State Government Finance: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes

Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

Click to view

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 05A

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Bemidji

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Itasca

Occupation: Policy Analyst

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Jobs and Economic Development Finance and Policy Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
State Government Finance and Veterans Affairs Minutes

Leadership Position: Majority Whip

Click to view

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 04A

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Bemidji

Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Cass, Itasca

Occupation: Policy Analyst

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
2012 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Minutes
Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Minutes
State Government Finance: Veterans Services Division Minutes

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

Click to view

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 04A

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: Bemidji

Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011

Counties Represented: Beltrami, Cass, Itasca

Occupation: Government/Former Environmental Specialist, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment Policy and Oversight Minutes
Environment Policy and Oversight: Game, Fish and Forestry Division Minutes
Finance: Energy Finance and Policy Division Minutes
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes

Click to view

OTHER INFORMATION

Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2019 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2016 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2009 House Interview

Articles & Books About
Hegarty, Susan. "Walking the Talk, Persell Models Stewardship of the Environment." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 23, 2009, p. 16.

District Files

District File - 2009 District 04A
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN 55155