Introduction from Joanne Benson - Republican
Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson was elected with Governor
Arne H. Carlson on November 8, 1994. She serves as an extension of the
Governor and assists the Governor in carrying out the functions of the
executive branch. Lieutenant Governor Benson actively represents the
interests and concerns of Minnesotans, from legislative and policy
issues at the State Capitol, to economic development and international
trade missions across the country and around the world.
Benson first became an elected official in 1990 and was re-elected in
1992 as a state senator. As a state senator, she served on the Senate
Education Committee and the Higher Education Division, the Taxes and Tax
Laws Committee, and the Property Tax Subcommittee, the Family Services
Committee, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Energy and
Public Utilities Committee, and the Transportation Committee.
While she was in the Senate, she quickly distinguished herself as a
leader. She was named to serve as Co-chair of the Governor's Commission
on Violent Crimes, the Republican Welfare Reform Task Force, and as
chair of the Governor's Task Force on Mandates in Education.
She was also recognized by two groups of Minnesota's college students.
In 1993, she was honored as "Senator of the Year" by the Minnesota State
University Student Association, and in 1994, was honored as "Outstanding
Senator" by the Minnesota Community College Student Association. In
1995, Benson received St. Cloud State University's "Distinguished Alumni
Award".
Prior to public service, Benson worked at St. Cloud State University
serving as an Assistant Professor, Associate Director of Alumni and
Development, and instructor at the Campus Lab School. She also served as
the head teacher at Gaetz Nursery School in St. Cloud.
Joanne Benson was born in Le Sueur, Minnesota, and graduated from
Glencoe High School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree, with
honors, in elementary and special education and pursued graduate studies
in educational administration from St. Cloud State University. Joanne
and her husband, Robert Benson, have two children and two
granddaughters.
