Torrey Westrom
Torrey Westrom | |
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Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 12th district | |
Assumed office January 8, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Paul Gazelka |
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 11A district 13A (1997–2003) | |
In office January 7, 1997 – January 7, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Chuck Brown |
Succeeded by | district redrawn |
Personal details | |
Born | Golden Valley, Minnesota | March 27, 1973
Political party | Republican Party of Minnesota |
Residence | Elbow Lake, Minnesota |
Alma mater | Bemidji State University William Mitchell College of Law |
Profession | Attorney, businessman, legislator |
Torrey Westrom (born March 27, 1973) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A Republican, he represents District 12, which includes all or portions of Big Stone, Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stearns, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin counties. He is the first known blind person to be elected to the Minnesota Legislature.[1]
Political career[]
Westrom has served on several legislative commissions, including the Rural Health Care Advisory Task Force, the Secretary of State's voting equipment task force and the Minnesota Legislative Audit Commission. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed him to serve a four-year term on a federal advisory panel called the Ticket to Work. The panel advised Congress and the White House on return-to-work programs for people with disabilities.[2]
Minnesota House of Representatives[]
Westrom is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 11A. He was first elected in 1996 and was re-elected every two years until his run for the Minnesota Senate. Prior to the 2002 legislative redistricting, he represented the old District 13A.
Minnesota Senate[]
Westrom was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2012. As a senator, Westrom has promoted affordable, reliable energy for Minnesota and has supported investments in clean energy, such as research into "green ammonia" at the University of Minnesota-Morris and other carbon-free gas energy solutions.[3]
Run for United States Congress[]
In December 2013, less than a year into his Senate term, Westrom announced that he would challenge incumbent Collin Peterson in Minnesota's 7th congressional district in 2014. He kicked off his campaign with events in Elbow Lake and Moorhead.[4] He raised over $84,000 in the first month of his campaign.[5] In the November general election, he won 46% of the vote, the highest Republican margin against Peterson since 1990.
Personal life[]
Westrom and his wife are owners of TSI Real Estate based out of Elbow Lake with properties in Hutchinson, Saint Paul, Madelia and several others.
References[]
- ^ "Legislator Record – Westrom, Torrey". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
- ^ "Torrey Westrom for State Senator". torreywestrom.com. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
- ^ "U of M researchers pitch 'green' ammonia as key to renewable energy future". MinnPost. April 28, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ Henry, Devin (December 4, 2013). "State Sen. Torrey Westrom to challenge Collin Peterson". MinnPost.
- ^ Henry, Devin (January 22, 2014). "Westrom raises $84,000 in campaign's first month". MinnPost.
External links[]
- Torrey Westrom at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
- Senator Torrey Westrom official Minnesota Senate website
- Minnesota Public Radio Vote Tracker: Rep. Westrom
- Torrey Westrom official campaign website
- Living people
- 1973 births
- Blind politicians
- Minnesota state senators
- Minnesota Republicans
- William Mitchell College of Law alumni
- Minnesota lawyers
- People from Elbow Lake, Minnesota
- People from Golden Valley, Minnesota
- American evangelicals
- American politicians with physical disabilities
- Blind people from the United States
- 21st-century American politicians
- 20th-century American politicians
- Candidates in the 2014 United States elections