Preceded by Gary Kubly Children 4 Preceded by redrawn district Name Lyle Koenen | Succeeded by district redrawn Role Politician Spouse(s) Sandy Education Ridgewater College | |
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Born June 16, 1956 (age 67)
Willmar, Minnesota ( 1956-06-16 ) Political party Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Party Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Residence Clara City, Minnesota, United States | ||
Senator lyle koenen
Lyle J. Koenen (born June 16, 1956) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represented District 17, which included portions of Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Renville, and Swift counties in the southwestern part of the state.
Contents
- Senator lyle koenen
- Early life education and career
- Minnesota House of Representatives
- Minnesota Senate
- References
Early life, education, and career
Koenen attended Maynard High School in Maynard, then went on to Willmar Technical College in Willmar, earning his A.A. in agriculture. He has worked as a dairy farmer and was also a milk truck and school bus driver. He has been co-chair of the Chippewa County National Farmers Union since 1996.
Minnesota House of Representatives
Koenen was first elected in 2002, and was re-elected four times. He served as chair of the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs subcommittee for the Veterans Affairs Division. On May 21, 2011, he joined the Republicans in voting for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and woman.
Minnesota Senate
Koenen was elected to the Senate in a special election in 2012 to fill the seat left vacant after the death of Gary Kubly. He was sworn in on April 18, 2012. Koenen ran for re-election to the newly drawn District 17 in 2012, defeating incumbent Willmar Republican Joseph Gimse. He lost re-election to Republican Andrew Lang.