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Michelle Benson
| Michelle Benson | ||
 | ||
| Minnesota State Senate District 31 | ||
| 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 | |
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | College of Saint Catherine | |
| Master's | University of Saint Thomas | |
| Personal | ||
| Profession | CPA | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
| Campaign website | ||
 | ||
Contents |
Michelle is a Certified Public Accountant. She currently works part time as a project manager.
Michelle graduated from St. Catherine's University with a degree in Chemistry. She also earned an MBA degree from St. Thomas University.
Issues
Campaign themes
Benson's website highlights the following campaign themes:[1]
Jobs and the Economy
- Excerpt:"Job stability, unemployment, and under-employment are the biggest concerns for the people I meet. No politician can provide the answer to our employment challenge. It is my belief that entrepreneurs and innovators in the private sector will be our best source of new jobs. When we encourage the private sector, jobs will follow. "
Budget
- Excerpt:"There is plenty of money to run the State of Minnesota. Instead of a tax increase, we need to lower and simplify taxes so we can get out of the way of entrepreneurs and get our economy rolling again! "
Education
- Excerpt:"Though we have the highest SAT scores in the country, we also rank among the top regarding minority disparity. Our funding formula for education was built based on politics that has created these funding disparities. As a nation, our math and science scores keep slipping. We cannot continue to support the status quo. "
Voter ID
- Excerpt:"When Georgia and Indiana implemented Voter ID, minority participation in voting actually increased over prior elections."
Pro-Life
- Excerpt:"Unborn children are the most innocent and helpless people. We must be their voice and protect their right to be born."
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Benson served on the following committees:
| Minnesota Committee Assignments, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Environment and Energy | ||||
| • Health, Human Services and Housing | ||||
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Benson served on these committees:
| Minnesota Committee Assignments, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Agriculture and Rural Economies | ||||
| • Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications | ||||
| • Health and Human Services | ||||
Elections
2012
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012
Benson won election in District 31 in 2012 due to redistricting. She was unopposed in the August 14 Republican primary and defeated Mike Starr (D) in the general election on November 6.[2]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 31, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Michelle Benson Incumbent |
58.7% | 24,774 | |
| Democratic | Mike Starr | 41.3% | 17,423 | |
| Total Votes | 42,197 | |||
2010
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2010
Benson had no opponent in the primary. She defeated Paul Meunier (DFL) in the general election.[3]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 49 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Michelle Benson (R)
|
19979 | 60.33% | ||
| Paul Meunier (DFL) | 13102 | 39.56% | ||
| Write-In | 37 | 0.11% | ||
Campaign donors
2012
Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.
2010
In 2010, Benson raised $52,707 in contributions. [4]
Her four largest contributors were:
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Public Fund | $12,899 |
| Benson, Michelle | $3,220 |
| Senate District 49 | $1,542 |
| Senate District 49 | $1,000 |
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term Michelle + Benson + Minnesota + Senate
- All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.
Michelle Benson News Feed
- Minnesota Senate approves marriage bill - Washington Blade
- Free speech, terrorism debated in Senate higher education debate - Mille Lacs County Times (blog)
- Other view: Board lacks business, consumer perspectives - Duluth News Tribune
- Photos: National Day of Prayer and Day of Reason at the Capitol - Minneapolis Star Tribune (blog)
- Dayton appoints seven-member health exchange board - Politics in Minnesota
- Coach cleared of charges no longer at MSU, Mankato - Salon
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Personal
Benson and her husband Craig have two children.
External links
- Campaign site
- House website
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2010
References
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jeremy Miller (R) |
Minnesota State Senate District 31 2013-present |
Succeeded by NA |
| Preceded by Debbie Johnson (R) |
Minnesota State Senate District 49 2011–2013 |
Succeeded by Melisa Franzen (DFL) |
- State legislative article missing donor information
- Current member, Minnesota State Senate
- State senators first elected in 2010
- Republican Party
- 2010 challenger
- State Senate candidate, 2010
- 2010 winner
- 2010 candidate
- Minnesota
- 2010 open seat
- 2012 incumbent
- State Senate candidate, 2012
- 2012 primary (winner)
- 2012 general election (winner)
- 2012 State Senate incumbent displaced by redistricting
