Carlson, Douglas W. (1939-2013)

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/legpol_oh/9 [16746]

Biographical Information: Douglas W. Carlson was born in Sandstone, Minnesota on November 1, 1939. Carlson originally studied veterinary medicine at the University of Minnesota throughout the 1960s (with a break between 1963 and 1964 for military service), before he decided to pursue a political career. Carlson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1970 as a Republican, and coauthored several bills that were intended to loosen corporate influence over state agricultural practices and expand student loan opportunities for college freshmen. Carlson passed away on April 22, 2013.

Minnesota state Representative for District 25A (1971-1972), District 14A (1973-1974, 1977-1982), and District 14B (1983-1990) elected from the conservative caucus and representing Aitkin, Carlton, Chisago, Kanabec, Pine, and St. Louis counties.

Transcript Summary: In an interview conducted on July 30, 1973, Douglas Carlson discussed his life and political career in Minnesota. Carlson noted that he originally sought work as a veterinarian, but was later persuaded to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives at the request of members of the Sandstone community. Carlson said he considered himself more of a non-partisan conservative, and routinely voted in favor of policies proposed by DFL representatives which he believed to beneficial for his constituents. Nevertheless, he campaigned as a Republican at the behest of his traditionally Republican constituency. Carlson expressed disappointment that some of the legislation he coauthored was never fully implemented, such as a bill intended to curb the influence of large corporations within the agricultural industry. Nevertheless, Carlson enjoyed helping to develop his district as a state representative, and was proud of passing another bills which allocated around $30 million for student loans for low-income college freshmen.

Interview conducted by Calvin Gower and James Waldron