Mary Ellen Otremba

Mary Ellen Otremba
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 11B district
In office November 13, 1997 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Ken Otremba
Succeeded by	Mary Franson
Personal details
Born	September 26, 1950 (1950-09-26) (age 61) Bertha, Minnesota
Political party	Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Ken Otremba (deceased)
Children	4, Andy Otremba, Timothy Otremba, Kateri Torborg, Elizabeth Otremba
Residence	Long Prairie, Minnesota
Alma mater	College of Saint Benedict Saint Cloud State University
Profession	educator, farmer, legislator
Religion	Catholic

Mary Ellen Otremba (born September 26, 1950) is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represented District 11B, which includes portions of Douglas and Todd counties in the west central part of the state. A Democrat, she is also a substitute teacher and farmer.^[1] On May 19, 2010, she announced that she would not seek an eighth term.^[2]

Otremba was first elected in a November 4, 1997, special election held after the death of her husband, Representative Ken Otremba, that September.^[3] She chaired the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Committee, and was a member of the Ways and Means Committee. She also served on the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee for the Veterans Affairs Division, and on the Finance subcommittees for the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division and the Health Care and Human Services Finance Division.^[4] She was an assistant minority leader from 2001-2004.^[1]

Otremba graduated from Long Prairie High School in Long Prairie, then went on to the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, receiving a B.A. in Home and Community Service. She later attended St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, earning her M.A. in Child and Family Studies. She worked as a nutritionist for the Todd County Department of Public Health from 1984–1989, as a teacher in the Freshwater Educational District from 1986–1989, and as a teacher at Eagle Valley High School in Clarissa from 1989-1997. Prior to and during her first term in the Legislature, she taught Family and Consumer Science at Swanville High School in Swanville, continuing today as a substitute teacher.^[5]

Otremba has been a member of the Minnesota Agriculture Education Advisory Board and the Rural Health Advisory Board since 2002. She is also active in various organizations and clubs in her local community.^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Otremba, Mary Ellen". Leg.state.mn.us. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=10500. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
2. ^ "Polinaut". Minnesota Public Radio. 2010-07-16. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
3. ^ "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Otremba, Ken". Leg.state.mn.us. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=10499. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
4. ^ "Mary Ellen Otremba (DFL) 11B - Minnesota House of Representatives". House.leg.state.mn.us. http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=10500. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Project Vote Smart - Representative Mary Ellen Otremba - Biography". Votesmart.org. 1950-09-26. http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=2088. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 

External links

• Mary Ellen Otremba at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
• Rep. Otremba Web Page
• Minnesota Public Radio Votetracker: Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba
• Project Votesmart - Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba Profile

Political offices
Preceded by Ken Otremba	Minnesota State Representative from the 11B District 1997-	Succeeded by Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Otremba, Mary Ellen
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	1950-09-26
Place of birth	Bertha, Minnesota
Date of death
Place of death