Ann H. Rest (born April 24, 1942) is an American politician and President pro tempore[1] of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represents District 43 which includes portions of the western suburbs of Hennepin County in the Twin Cities metro area.

Ann Rest
President pro tempore of the Minnesota Senate
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byDavid Tomassoni
In office
January 7, 2013 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byGen Olson
Succeeded byWarren Limmer
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 45th district
46th (2001–2013)
Assumed office
January 3, 2001
Preceded byEmber Reichgott Junge
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 46A district
In office
January 8, 1985 – January 2, 2001
Preceded byDorothy Hokr
Succeeded byMark Thompson
Personal details
Born (1942-04-24) April 24, 1942 (age 82)
Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJames (divorced)
Children1
EducationNorthwestern University (BA)
University of Chicago (MA)
Harvard University (MEd, MPA)
University of Minnesota (MS)

Early life, education, and career

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Rest attended Rich Township High School in Park Forest, Illinois, graduating in 1960, then went on to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she received her B.A. in Latin and Greek. She then attended the University of Chicago on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and earned a M.A. in Latin and Greek. She later received an M.A. in Teaching from Harvard University, a Masters in Business Taxation from the University of Minnesota, and a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government through a Bush Fellowship. She is a retired Certified Public Accountant.[2]

Minnesota Legislature

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Rest was first elected to the Senate in 2000, and was re-elected in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2022.[3] She served as an assistant majority leader from 2003 to 2007 and Senate President Pro Tempore 2013–2017 and 2023–present .[4]

Before being elected to the Senate, Rest represented District 46A in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 16 years, being first elected in 1984, and re-elected in 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1998. She was an assistant majority leader of the House from 1989 to 1991. She chaired the House Tax Committee from 1993 to 1997, and the House Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee from 1997 to 1999.[4] She chaired the Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee from 2007 to 2011.[5]

For the 2023 - 2026 Senate term, Rest is serving as Senate President Pro Tempore and on the following committees and commissions: Taxes, (Chair), Rules (VicecChair ) , Commerce, Elections, Tax Expenditure Review Commission( Chair,2023-2025); Legislative Audit Commission 2023-2027) Capitol Preservation Commission ( 2023–present) ; Great Lakes Commission ; Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus (Executive Committee, Past President, founding member).[6]

Her special legislative concerns include tax policy, commerce, transit policy, election laws and housing policy.[4]

Personal life

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Rest has been active on numerous government and community boards through the years. She is a member of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, and NCSL's Executive Committee's Task Force on State and Local Taxation. She is a past president of Streamline Sales Tax Governing Board and serves on the Executive Committee. Rest was a member of the Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial Commission (2006–2008) and served on the Minnesota Capitol Area Architectural Planning Board and the Capitol Preservation Commission. Rest is a Minnesota delegate to the Great Lakes Commission and was a founding member of the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus, which she also chaired.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Senator Ann H. Rest (DFL) District 43". www.senate.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  2. ^ a b "Project Vote Smart - Senator Ann H. Rest - Biography". Votesmart.org. 1942-04-24. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  3. ^ "Minnesota 45th District State Senate Results: Ann Rest Wins". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  4. ^ a b c "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Rest, Ann H". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  5. ^ "Senator Ann H. Rest DFL District 45". Senate.leg.state.mn.us. 1942-04-24. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  6. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
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Minnesota Senate
Preceded by President pro tempore of the Minnesota Senate
2013–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by President pro tempore of the Minnesota Senate
2022–present
Incumbent