Sarna, John Joseph
House 1973-82 (District 55B); House 1983-92 (District 58A); House 1993-96 (District 59A)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Counties Served:
Anoka, Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
3/9/1935
Birth Place:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth County:
Hennepin
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
4/20/2021
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Labor Official, United Auto Workers
EDUCATION
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Ann Chamberlin
Children:
Two children: Beth and Barb (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
He was the Minneapolis Chairman of Sen. Humphrey for President 1972.
"John earned the label 'Mr. Consumer Protection' authoring many bills including the "lemon law" guaranteeing consumer protection on new or used vehicles, and the bill allowing reading glasses to be sold anywhere. Perhaps his biggest legacy is the preservation of the historical Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge. In 1991, the bridge was earmarked for train use, but he envisioned it for pedestrian use and saw it as a catalyst to revitalize the downtown riverfront. He created a committee including historical preservationists, engineers, and neighbors and passed legislation to successfully save the bridge for public use." (Star Tribune obituary, April 25, 2021)
Body: House
District: 59A
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Rural Development
-
Agriculture: Dairy Policy and Soil and Water Conservation
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs (Chair)
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Business Regulation Division
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Consumer Affairs
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Economic Equality
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Real Estate and Commerce
-
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Tourism
-
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
-
Rules and Legislative Administration: Administration
Body: House
District: 59A
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce and Economic Development (Chair)
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Consumer Protection
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Controversial Bills
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Economic Equality
-
Commerce and Economic Development: International Trade, Technology and Economic Development Division
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Occupational Licensing
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Real Estate and Commerce
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Tourism and Small Business Division
-
Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance
-
Labor-Management Relations
-
Regulated Industries and Energy
Body: House
District: 58A
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Economic Development, Infrastructure, and Regulation Division
-
Commerce (Chair)
-
Labor-Management Relations
-
Labor-Management Relations: Worker's Compensation and Unemployment Insurance
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
Body: House
District: 58A
Elected: 11/8/1988
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-State Division
-
Commerce (Chair)
-
Commerce: Consumer Affairs
-
Commerce: Small Business, Energy and Real Estate
-
Commerce: Tourism
-
Labor-Management Relations
-
Labor-Management Relations: Unemployment Insurance and Workers' Compensation
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Local Government and Structures
Body: House
District: 58A
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-States Division
-
Commerce (Chair)
-
Commerce: Consumer Affairs
-
Commerce: Energy and Real Estate
-
Commerce: Tourism
-
Labor-Management Relations
-
Local and Urban Affairs
Body: House
District: 58A
Elected: 11/6/1984
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-States Division
-
Commerce and Economic Development
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Commerce and Regulation
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Small Business, Economic Development and Tourism
Body: House
District: 58A
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation, Semi-State Division
-
Commerce and Economic Development (Chair)
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Commerce and Job Creation
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Consumer Affairs and Tourism
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Economic Development
-
Regulated Industries
-
Regulated Industries: Beverage
Body: House
District: 55B
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce and Economic Development (Chair)
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Consumer Affairs and Tourism
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Economic Development
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Liquor
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Oil Decontrol Task Force (Chair)
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Housing
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Pensions and Investments
-
Regulated Industries
Body: House
District: 55B
Elected: 11/7/1978
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce, Economic Development and Housing
-
Commerce, Economic Development and Housing: Tourism and Consumer Protection
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Personnel
-
Transportation
-
Transportation: Bridges and Highways
Body: House
District: 55B
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official, United Auto Workers
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Governmental Operations
-
Transportation
Body: House
District: 55B
Elected: 11/5/1974
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official, United Auto Workers
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Governmental Operations
-
Transportation
Body: House
District: 55B
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation: Labor Official, United Auto Workers
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
-
City Government
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Governmental Operations
-
Labor-Management Relations
Articles & Books About
Kumar, Kavita. "John Sarna: He Saved Stone Arch Bridge for Pedestrians and Bicyclists." Star Tribune, April 28, 2021, p. B4.
"Sarna, John Joseph." Star Tribune, April 25, 2021.
"Five More House Members Announce Retirement." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 12, 1996, p. 42.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.