Phil Carruthers

Phil Carruthers (born December 8, 1953) is retired Minnesota DFL politician, most notable as the former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He is currently the head of the Criminal Division at the Ramsey County Attorney's Office.

Carruthers graduated from St. Anthony Village High School and the University of Minnesota before attending the University of Minnesota Law School. He worked for several years as an attorney before seeking public office. He won election to the house in 1986 out of Brooklyn Center in District 47B. In the House, he served on several judiciary committees and metropolitan affairs committees. During his time in the legislature Carruthers maintained a private practive and served as the prosecutor for the city of Shorewood, Minnesota.

In 1993, during the 78th Session of the Minnesota House, Carruthers ascended to the position of Majority Leader when Irv Anderson became Speaker. He served as majority leader in the next two legislative sessions and became Chair of the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. When Anderson stepped down from the leadership in 1996, following the 79th Session, Carruthers succeeded him as Speaker. He remained Speaker until 1999, when the DFL majority was defeated by the Republican Party, and Steve Sviggum succeeded him as Speaker.

Carruthers served one more term in the House before retiring in 2000.

External links