Carla Nelson

Carla Nelson
Minnesota State Senate District 26
Incumbent
In office
2011 - present
Term ends
January 3, 2017
Years in position	2
Party	Republican
Compensation
Base salary	$31,140.90/year
Per diem	$96/day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 6, 2012
First elected	November 2, 2010
Next election	November 8, 2016
Term limits	N/A
Prior offices
Minnesota House of Representatives
2003 - 2005
Education
Bachelor's	Drake University
Master's	University of Minnesota
Personal
Birthday	May 22, 1957
Profession	Teacher/Owner Insurance and Investment Firm
Websites
Office website
Campaign website

Carla Nelson (b. May 22, 1957) is a Republican member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 26 since 2013. She previously represented District 30 from 2011 to 2013. Prior to her time in the Senate, Nelson served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005.

Nelson is an educator and small business owner. Since leaving the Minnesota House, Carla has owned and operated an insurance and investment firm. She also is certified as a reading specialist, receiving her certification from the University of Minnesota.

Nelson received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Drake University with an emphasis in Special Education. Carla earned her Master of Education in Teacher Leadership from the University of Minnesota.

Issues

Campaign themes

Nelson's website highlights the following campaign themes:

Jobs and the Economy

• Excerpt:"As a small business owner, Carla knows we must improve Minnesota’s private sector job climate through lower taxation and smarter regulation. Minnesota is one of the least job friendly states in the nation. We must change this to keep and expand Minnesota jobs!"

Budget

• Excerpt:"Carla will solve the massive looming budget deficit using a balanced approach. Increase revenues through increased economic activity. Hold a lid on and reduce job-killing tax burdens in an already highly taxed state. Reduce the size of government focus on priorities and increase results."

Education

• Excerpt:"Lawmakers must correct our school funding formulas to remove large funding disparities between school districts. Student achievement must be the focus of education reform and funding."

Health Care

• Excerpt:"Carla is an advocate for patient-centered health care. She will fight to preserve patient choice and will work to reform the payment system to reward outcomes. Carla authored legislation that formed the cutting edge Minnesota Partnership between Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota."

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Nelson served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Nelson served on these committees:

Elections

2012

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012

Nelson won election in District 26 in 2012 due to redistricting. She was unopposed in the August 14 Republican primary and defeated Kenneth Moen (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.

Minnesota State Senate, District 26, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Carla Nelson Incumbent	55.7%	22,263
	Democratic	Kenneth Moen	44.3%	17,692
Total Votes				39,955

2010

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2010

Nelson won election to the District 30 Seat in 2010. She had no primary opposition. She defeated incumbent Ann Lynch (DFL) in the general election on November 2, 2010.

Minnesota State Senate, District 30 (2010)
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Carla Nelson (R)		16,757	54.30%
Ann Lynch (DFL)		14,056	45.55%
Write-In		47	0.15%

Campaign donors

2012

Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.

2010

In 2010, Nelson raised $70,504 in contributions.

Her four largest contributors were:

Donor	Amount
Nelson Carla Jean House Dist 30A Cmte	$14,014
Public Fund	$11,567
1st Congressional District RPM	$2,700
Nelson, Carla J	$1,143

Recent news

This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term Carla + Nelson + Minnesota + Senate

All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.

Carla Nelson News Feed

• MN Senate Approves Day Care Unionization Measure - Northland's NewsCenter
• Minnesota Senate Passes Gay Marriage, Governor To Sign - Huffington Post - Huffington Post
• Poligraph: No certainty on daycare union dues - Minnesota Public Radio
• Minnesota Senate OKs gay marriage; governor to sign - Press Herald
• Minnesota Passes Marriage Equality- Becomes Number 12! - Lez Get Real - Lez Get Real
• Minnesota Lawmakers Approve Gay Marriage, Governor Pledges to Sign - Gospel Herald
• Minnesota Senate passes tax bill on second vote - Pioneer Press
• Dayton signs bill legalizing same-sex marriage - Post-Bulletin
• Minn. OKs gay marriage; governor to sign - GoErie.com
• Senate approves gay marriage bill - Post-Bulletin

Personal

Nelson and her husband Terry have three children.

External links

Suggest a link

• Campaign site
• House website
• Biography from Project Vote Smart
• Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
• Campaign Contributions: 2010

References

Political offices
Preceded by Mike Parry (R)	Minnesota State Senate District 26 2013-present	Succeeded by NA
Preceded by Ann Lynch (DFL)	Minnesota State Senate District 30 2011–2013	Succeeded by Mary Kiffmeyer (R)

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