Bud Heidgerken

Bud Heidgerken is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A Republican, he represented District 13A, which includes portions of Kandiyohi, Pope and Stearns counties in the west central part of the state.[1]

Bud Heidgerken
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 13A district
In office
2003 - 2009
Succeeded byPaul Anderson
Personal details
Born (1943-09-27) September 27, 1943
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Ann Blommel
Children4
ResidenceFreeport, Minnesota
Alma materSt. John's Prep
St. Cloud State University
Occupationeducator, business owner, legislator

Heidgerken was first elected in 2002, and was re-elected in 2004 and 2006. He did not seek re-election in 2008, and was succeeded by Rep. Paul Anderson of Starbuck.[2]

Heidgerken graduated from St. John's Prep School in St. Joseph and St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud. He taught school in the Brooten School System and, later, the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa School System for 21 years. He and his wife also owned Charlie's Cafe in Freeport for many years. He was a member of the Freeport City Council and the Freeport School Board, and also served as president of the Stearns Electric Trust Board.[3]

Heidgerken made news in the 2008 legislative session by being one of six house Republicans to vote to override Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto[4] of a transportation bill. The bill increased money spent on transportation by raising the gas tax. Due to dissatisfaction in the Republican caucus with this vote, he and the other Republicans who voted to override the veto had their leadership positions taken away.[5] He decided to retire after the session, partially due to the controversy surrounding this vote.[6] Other house members who voted to override faced caucus challenges or decided to retire, as well.

References
  1. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=10765
  2. http://www.leg.mn/archive/LegDB/Articles/10765SessWeeklyStepDown.pdf
  3. http://www.paynesvillearea.com/news/headlinesarticles/archives/050102/13Acandidates0501.html
  4. A Quick Veto and Now a Road Bill Showdown, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 2008/02/23
  5. "Party politics at state capitol, Minnesota Daily, 2008/03/26". Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  6. Stearns-Morrison Enterprise, Heidgerken to step down from 13B seat, 2008/06/04
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