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Dave Lislegard

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Dave Lislegard
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 7B district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
Preceded byJason Metsa
Personal details
Born (1973-03-06) March 6, 1973 (age 51)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLisa
Children2
Residence(s)Aurora, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationMesabi Range College
University of Minnesota Duluth (BA)
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Dave Lislegard (/ˈlɪzləɡɑːrd/ LIZ-lə-gard;[1] born March 6, 1973) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Lislegard represents District 7B in northeast Minnesota, which includes the city of Virginia and parts of St. Louis County in the Iron Range.[2][3]

In May 2024, Lislegard announced that he would not seek reelection to a fourth term.

Early life, education, and career

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Lislegard attended Babbitt-Embarrass High School. He studied at Mesabi Range College for two years and later attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and communications.[2]

Lislegard worked as a steelworker at the LTV steel plant in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, until he was laid off in 2001. He worked in business relations for Lakehead Constructors.[2][4]

Lislegard served on the Aurora City Council for 14 years and as mayor from 2017 until he was elected to the state legislature.[2] As a council member and mayor, Lislegard long supported the mining industry in the Iron Range, saying he was confident mining could be done responsibly despite environmental concerns.[4][5] He opposed efforts to insert language into the DFL party platform that would "oppose sulfide-ore mining" in the state, and served as a member of the pro-mining Jobs for Minnesotans' board of directors.[6][7][8]

Minnesota House of Representatives

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Lislegard was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and has been reelected every two years since. He first ran after three-term DFL incumbent Jason Metsa announced he would not seek reelection and would run for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.[2] Lislegard defeated the party-endorsed candidate, Shaun Hainey, in the DFL primary.[9]

Lislegard chairs the Property Tax Division and sits on the Taxes, Environment and Natural Resources, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committees. From 2019 to 2022 he served as vice chair of the Taxes Committee.[2]

Mining and environmental regulations

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Lislegard is a vocal supporter of the mining industry in the Iron Range, and has been called "arguably the most pro-mining legislator" in the state.[9][10] He co-authored legislation to officially declare Minnesota a "mining-friendly" state.[11] He has supported the PolyMet and Twin Metals mining proposals, and criticized Mesabi Metallics for failing to meet state deadlines for its taconite mining project.[5][12][13]

Lislegard has argued mining can be done safely, boost the local economy, and create good-paying jobs and that opponents of mining would force the outsourcing of materials to countries with looser environmental standards.[4][12] He has said that if the companies fail to show they can meet environmental standards, he would oppose their permits.[12]

Lislegard authored legislation for a $10 million extension of unemployment benefits for 400 miners laid off from Cleveland-Cliffs Northshore Mining operations in May 2022.[14] The bill passed the house with broad bipartisan support and was signed by Governor Tim Walz on January 24, 2023.[15][16] He introduced a bill that would provide $25 million in state funds to renovate power lines in Northern Minnesota.[17]

Lislegard supported a major expansion of a solar manufacturing plant in the Iron Range, saying the materials for the plant should be mined in Minnesota.[18][19] He raised concerns over the reestablishment of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's citizen's board and the impact it would have on the mining industry.[20] His and other rural DFL members opposition led to the proposal being scaled back to only include the seven-county metro and other large cities.[21]

Taxes

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Lislegard supported a full elimination of state taxes on Social Security benefits, and authored legislation to repeal the tax.[22][23][24] He later supported a full repeal for couples earning less than $100,000 annually.[25] Lislegard supported the DFL's 2023 tax proposal, including raising taxes on the top 0.8 percent of earners and corporate income.[26] He has supported efforts to permanently increase local and county government aid.[27]

Lislegard, who played an extra in the 2005 film "North Country" filmed in the Iron Range, has led efforts to give tax incentives and rebates to the entertainment industry to increase film and TV production in Minnesota.[28][29][30] He co-authored legislation in 2022 to propose a gas tax holiday due to rising costs and inflation.[31][32]

Other political positions

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Lislegard has opposed "right to work" laws and called himself a "labor Democrat".[33][34] He has supported the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) priorities on pensions, labor agreements, local government aid, and frontline worker pay, and was one of a handful of DFL candidates earning their endorsement in 2022.[35] He authored legislation that delivered money for a public safety center in Virginia, Minnesota.[34] He was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) in 2022.[36][37]

Lislegard voted for the PRO Act, which established a fundamental right to an abortion in state law in accordance with a 1995 Minnesota State Supreme Court ruling.[38] He authored legislation to build a facility in St. Louis County to treat PFAS chemicals.[39] During the COVID-19 pandemic, he voted with House Republicans attempting to rescind Governor Walz's emergency powers in November 2020.[40]

Electoral history

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2018 Minnesota State House - District 6B[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Dave Lislegard 12,075 61.97
Republican Skeeter Tomczak 7,379 37.87
Write-in 30 0.15
Total votes 19,484 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2020 Minnesota State House - District 6B[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Dave Lislegard (incumbent) 12,648 54.54
Republican Julie Buria 10,513 45.33
Write-in 31 0.13
Total votes 23,192 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 7B[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Dave Lislegard (incumbent) 10,178 51.10
Republican Matt Norri 9,708 48.74
Write-in 32 0.16
Total votes 18,918 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

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Lislegard and his wife, Lisa, reside in Aurora, Minnesota. They have two children.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Meet Your Candidates 2022 - Minnesota House District 7B. PBS North. October 10, 2022. Event occurs at 00:19. Retrieved August 23, 2024 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Lislegard, Dave". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  3. ^ "Rep. Dave Lislegard (07B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  4. ^ a b c McKinney, Matt (December 30, 2018). "Iron Range cities ready to welcome mining revival". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  5. ^ a b Kraker, Dan (February 8, 2018). "Iron Rangers press their case for PolyMet mine". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  6. ^ Collins, Bob (December 5, 2016). "Gov race in MN likely to pit environment vs. jobs". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  7. ^ Kraker, Dan (August 28, 2018). "Will the PolyMet mine project move forward?". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  8. ^ Kraker, Dan (November 1, 2018). "DNR backs PolyMet mine permits". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  9. ^ a b Van Berkel, Jessie (August 13, 2018). "Minnesota House candidates, from Minneapolis to Iron Range, face contested primaries". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  10. ^ Brown, Aaron (2022-11-11). "Iron Range, seething at the Twin Cities, continues right turn". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  11. ^ Editorial Board of the Duluth News Tribune (March 26, 2023). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Is Minnesota mining-friendly? Duh!". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  12. ^ a b c Lislegard, Dave (August 30, 2019). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Counterpoint: Here on the Iron Range, we know mining. Our laws and processes will work". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  13. ^ Johnson, Brooks (May 5, 2021). "State pulling leases for long-stalled Mesabi Metallics taconite mine". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  14. ^ Olson, Rochelle (January 12, 2023). "New DFL senator pushes extension of unemployment benefits for hard-hit miners". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  15. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (January 25, 2023). "Gov. Tim Walz signs bill to extend unemployment benefits to laid-off miners". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  16. ^ Kraker, Dan (January 23, 2023). "Bill to extend benefits for laid-off mineworkers passes Minnesota House". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  17. ^ Hughlett, Mike (March 2, 2023). "Minnesota Power asks Legislature for $25M toward $700M refurbishing of key power line". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  18. ^ Kraker, Dan (November 3, 2022). "A redder Range could determine the makeup of Minnesota's Legislature". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  19. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2021-09-10). "The Iron Range may soon be home to one of the largest solar panel manufacturing facilities in the country". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  20. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2023-03-15). "Critical of MPCA, some Minnesota DFLers want citizens board back". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  21. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2023-04-20). "Minnesota DFL's watered down environmental bill passes after intra-party split". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  22. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2023-03-02). "Why repealing Minnesota's Social Security tax is 'not dead' yet at Legislature". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  23. ^ Griffith, Michelle (2023-04-18). "Takeaways from the House DFL's tax plan". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  24. ^ Bakst, Brian (March 13, 2023). "Tax cuts likely in Minnesota session but who benefits still unknown". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  25. ^ Bright, Emily; Elder, Alanna (April 18, 2023). "DFL tax plan in the works includes 'millionaire tax,' shield from social security income". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  26. ^ Callaghan, Peter; Orenstein, Walker (2023-04-18). "'Exactly the right moment.' Minnesota House DFL wants tax on top earners". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  27. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2023-03-21). "Lawmakers consider influx of cash for Minnesota cities, counties". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  28. ^ Johnson, Brooks (October 9, 2019). "Sundance? Portlandia? Indie TV festival lands in Duluth with high goals". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  29. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (March 16, 2023). "Minnesota may boost film tax credit 400% in hope of attracting production". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  30. ^ Callaghan, Peter (2021-07-19). "There's little evidence that film and TV tax credits work. Why Minnesota lawmakers funded a new one anyway". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  31. ^ Pugmire, Tim (February 25, 2022). "Some House DFLers pitch summer gas tax holiday". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  32. ^ Eischens, Rilyn (February 25, 2022). "Democrats propose gas tax holiday". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  33. ^ Scheck, Tom (May 30, 2014). "Seeking re-election, Dayton walks fine line on mining". MPR News. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  34. ^ a b Orenstein, Walker (2022-10-11). "Will the Iron Range finally go red? 7 NE Minnesota legislative seats in play". MinnPost. Archived from the original on 2022-10-11. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  35. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2022-11-03). "Police association endorsements among most coveted, controversial in Minnesota". MinnPost. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  36. ^ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Minnesota". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  37. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2023-02-15). "Minnesota Democrats hope to advance 'red flag' gun bill at Legislature". MinnPost. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  38. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2023-02-01). "What a new abortion law says about changing DFL politics in Minnesota". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  39. ^ Winter, Deena (February 6, 2023). "Bill would help build waste facility to treat PFAS in northeast Minnesota". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  40. ^ Callaghan, Peter (2020-11-13). "Legislative Republicans change their tone, and their tune, on the seriousness of the pandemic". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  41. ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 6B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  42. ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 6B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  43. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 7B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
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