Pat Piper (politician)

Pat Piper
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 27th district
31st (1987–1993)
In office
January 6, 1987  January 2, 2001
Preceded by Tom A. Nelson
Succeeded by Grace Schwab
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 31B district
In office
January 4, 1983  January 6, 1987
Preceded by Leo J. Reding
Succeeded by Leo J. Reding
Personal details
Born (1934-07-16)July 16, 1934
Delavan, Minnesota
Died January 31, 2016(2016-01-31) (aged 81)
Rochester, Minnesota
Political party Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
Residence Austin, Minnesota
Alma mater College of Saint Teresa (B.A.)
The Catholic University of America (M.A.)
Occupation legislator
Religion Catholic

Patricia Kathryn "Pat" Piper (July 16, 1934 January 31, 2016) was a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represented District 27 in the Senate and 31B in the House, which includes portions of Freeborn and Mower counties in the southeastern part of Minnesota. She was a Religious Education Director, Ecumenical Resource Center/Consultant/Teacher and Workshop Leader.[1]

Early Life, Education and Career

Born in Delavan, Minnesota, Piper was one of nine children. Her father fought in World War II. Piper grew up in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Piper received an B.A. in Elementary Education from College of Saint Teresa and a B.A. in Religious Education from The Catholic University of America. Piper was a Roman Catholic Nun who worked as a Religious Education Director, Ecumenical Resource Center/Consultant/Teacher and Workshop Leader at Christian Education Center.[2]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Elections

Piper was first elected in 1982 and re-elected in 1984. She decided to run for State Senate instead of seeking re-election in 1986.

1984 Minnesota State Representative- House 31B[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Pat Piper (incumbent) 9158 56.90
Republican Lee Aase 6223 38.70
1882 Minnesota State Representative- House 31B[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Pat Piper 8798 61.73
Republican Chuck Moline 5119 35.92

Committee Assignments

For the 74th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

For the 73rd Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

Tenure

Piper represented District 31A in the Minnesota House of Representatives from January 4, 1983 to January 6, 1987(73rd and 74th Legislative Sessions).

Minnesota Senate

Elections

Piper was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1986, and was re-elected in 1990, 1992 and 1996. She lost re-election in 2000 to Grace Schwab.

2000 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 27[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Pat Piper (incumbent) 14971 47.27
Republican Grace Schwab 16697 52.73
1996 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 27[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Pat Piper (incumbent) 17367 54.39
Republican Brian Slowinski 12805 40.10
Libertarian Rich Osness 1217 5.51
1992 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 27[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Pat Piper (incumbent) 20092 56.28
Republican Mel Eichstadt 14685 41.13
1990 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 31[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Pat Piper (incumbent) 14200 62.03
Republican Mel Eichstadt 7884 34.44
1986 Minnesota State Senator- Senate 31[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DFL Pat Piper 13571 61.30
Republican Jack Dibble 8567 38.70

Committee Assignments

For the 80th and 81st Legislative Sessions, Piper was a part of:

For the 79th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

For the 78th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

For the 77th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

For the 76th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

For the 75th Legislative Session, Piper was a part of:

Tenure

Piper was sworn in on January 6, 1987, serving in the 75th, 76th, 77th, 78th 79th, 80th, and 81st Legislative Sessions. Piper championed issues such as: family support, children, health, human services, and education. She was part of the "Gang of Seven" (Linda Berglin, Paul Ogren, Duane Benson, Dave Gruenes, Brad Stanius, Rep. Lee Greenfield, and Piper) that worked to pass bipartisan Minnesota Care.[10] She also pushed legislation to help the Exol Ethanol plant in Glenville, Minnesota.[11] Piper convinced a Senate committee to join her in singing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" song, when children visited the state Capitol to testify about welfare issues.[2] Piper authored legislation that would require insurance companies to pay for bone marrow transplants as an experimental procedure for women with breast cancer.[12]

Post-Legislative Career

Piper suggested that she'd apply for the position of chaplain of the Senate, where she could give her numerous original prayers an appropriate audience. Piper also suggested she would be the appropriate candidate to become the director of a child-care center in the state Capitol.[2] Piper stayed involved in the Austin Community, running the Senate Campaign for KAAL TV 6 Anchor Terry Kelley and attending public events. She also became a board member for Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco.

Personal life

Piper was single and lived in Austin, Minnesota. She died at Cottagewood Senior Community in Rochester, Minnesota.[13]

References

  1. "Piper, Pat". Legislators Past & Present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Piper honored at dinner - Austin Daily Herald".
  3. "Results for State Representative District 31B" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  4. "Results for State Representative District 31B" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  5. "Results for State Senate District 27". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  6. "Results for State Senate District 27" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  7. "Results for State Senate District 27" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  8. "Results for State Senate District 31" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  9. "Results for State Senate District 31" (PDF). Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  10. "Bipartisanship in the 1990s delivered health-care reform in Minnesota". MinnPost.
  11. "Piper measure would aid Exol plant - Austin Daily Herald".
  12. "Piper defends women’s health bill - Austin Daily Herald".
  13. "Patricia Kathryn Piper". Patricia Kathryn Piper Obituary.

External links

Minnesota Senate
Preceded by
Tom A. Nelson
Senator from the 27th district
31st (1987–1993)

1987–2001
Succeeded by
Grace Schwab
Minnesota House of Representatives
Preceded by
Leo J. Reding
Member of the House of Representatives
from the 31A district

1983-1987
Succeeded by
Leo J. Reding
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