Preceded by Paul Gardner Succeeded by Mady Reiter Succeeded by district redrawn Role Politician | Preceded by redrawn district Preceded by Gordon Voss Name Linda Runbeck Education Bethel University | |
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Born June 11, 1946 (age 77) ( 1946-06-11 ) Political party Republican Party of Minnesota Party Republican Party of Minnesota Residence Circle Pines, Minnesota, United States | ||
Informational interview with Rep. Linda Runbeck (R-38A)
Linda Runbeck (born June 11, 1946) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, she represents District 38A, which includes portions of Anoka and Washington counties in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. She and her husband are also co-owners of Braham Monument Company in Braham.
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Early life, education, and career
Runbeck graduated from Bethel University in Arden Hills, earning her B.A. in Sociology and Social Work. Prior to serving in the Minnesota Legislature, she was a member of the Circle Pines City Council. She was president of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, served on the Northwest YMCA’s Advisory Board, receiving its Distinguished Leader Award in 2007, and was also development director at the Minnesota Free Market Institute. She has also been a frequent guest on Almanac, a weekly public affairs television show in Minnesota.
She previously worked as director of advertising for County Seat Stores and vice president for Dahlberg Incorporated, a hearing aid manufacturer. She later owned a Miracle-Ear hearing aid franchise.
Political career
Runbeck was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2010 and re-elected in 2012.
She previously served in the Minnesota Senate, representing District 53 from 1993 to 2001, leaving to make an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota's 4th District in 2000 against DFLer Betty McCollum. She also served in the House previously, representing the old District 52A from 1989 to 1993 after winning a 1989 special election held after Rep. Gordon Voss resigned to accept an appointment by Governor Rudy Perpich as Chief Administrator of the Minnesota Metropolitan Waste Control Commission.
Political positions
Runbeck is a staunch right conservative Republican. In the 2012 she voted to amend the Minnesota State Constitution to permanently ban gay marriage and to require a photo ID to vote. Both of these proposals were later rejected by voters.
Runbeck opposes abortion and voted to ban all abortions after 20 weeks, and voted to eliminate funding for Mass Transit. At the same time Runbeck voted to lift the ban on nuclear power plants in Minnesota.