Patty Acomb (/ˈeɪkoʊm/ AY-kohm;[1] born September 28, 1965) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Acomb represents District 45B in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the city of Minnetonka and parts of Hennepin County.[2][3]
Patty Acomb | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 45B district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Jon Applebaum |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 28, 1965 Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Craig |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Education | University of Minnesota (BS) |
| Occupation | Legislator |
| Website | Government website Campaign website |
Early life, education, and career
editAcomb was born in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and graduated from Hopkins High School. She attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a B.S. in natural resources.[2]
Acomb has worked at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Hennepin County Environmental Services.[2] She also worked on energy policy for the National League of Cities.[4]
Acomb was elected to the Minnetonka Park Board in 2009 and then to the Minnetonka City Council from 2012 until her election to the state legislature.[5] While a council member, she served on the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, the Metropolitan Council Water Supply Advisory Committee, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's governmental advisory committee. Governor Mark Dayton appointed Acomb to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources from 2015 to 2018.[2]
Minnesota House of Representatives
editAcomb was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and has been reelected every two years since. She first ran after two-term DFL incumbent Jon Applebaum announced he would not seek reelection.[2]
Acomb chairs the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee and sits on the Health Finance and Policy, Sustainable Infrastructure Policy, and Ways and Means Committees. In 2019, she founded and was named chair of the Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus.[6] From 2021 to 2022, Acomb served as vice chair of the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee.[2]
Climate and energy
editAcomb led efforts to move Minnesota to zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.[7] She has supported weatherization, and stated she "preferred carrots rather than sticks" to incentivize a transition to a green economy.[8][9] She authored legislation to give schools grants to install solar energy systems and incorporate teaching about energy into their curricula.[10][11] She also proposed an amendment to bar public utilities from giving subsidies to builders to use natural gas.[12] Acomb attended the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow in 2021.[13][14]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Patty Acomb | 15,082 | 62.74 | |
| Republican | Gary Porter | 8,935 | 37.17 | |
| Write-in | 21 | 0.09 | ||
| Total votes | 24,038 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Patty Acomb (incumbent) | 17,340 | 62.29 | |
| Republican | Gary Porter | 10,480 | 37.65 | |
| Write-in | 16 | 0.06 | ||
| Total votes | 27,836 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Patty Acomb (incumbent) | 14,915 | 62.05 | |
| Republican | Lorie Cousineau | 9,108 | 37.89 | |
| Write-in | 14 | 0.06 | ||
| Total votes | 24,037 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Personal life
editAcomb and her husband, Craig, have two children. She resides in Minnetonka, Minnesota.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Name Pronunciation Guide for House Members 2023". Minnesota Legislature. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Acomb, Patty - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ "Rep. Patty Acomb (45B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ Star Tribune Editorial Board (October 30, 2018). "EDITORIAL | Election endorsements: Our choices in House Districts 38B, 42A, 44B and 48A". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Bockenstedt, Lara (February 21, 2018). "Minnetonka City Councilor Patty Acomb announces candidacy for House District seat 44B". Lakeshore Weekly News. Big Fish Works. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ Star Tribune Editorial Board (September 19, 2019). "EDITORIAL | Don't delay on climate action". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Bjorhus, Jennifer (February 5, 2021). "Legislators push to shrink Minnesota's carbon footprint to zero by 2050". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Orenstein, Walker (2022-12-01). "How far will Democrats in Minnesota go to address climate change next year?". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Orenstein, Walker (2023-02-27). "With carbon-free in place, Minnesota DFLers now debate energy storage mandate". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Acomb, Patty (May 14, 2021). "Readers Write: Electric vehicles, solar power on school roofs". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Johnson, Chloe (November 24, 2022). "Minnesota's DFL lawmakers vow progress on fighting climate change". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Johnson, Chloe (October 26, 2022). "Minnesota aims for lower carbon emissions, yet its natural gas network keeps growing". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Sturdevant, Lori (November 20, 2021). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Minnesota, the Midwest are central in combating climate change". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Acomb, Patty (2021-12-01). "Minnesotans who went to climate summit returned both distressed and ready to work". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 44B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 44B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 45B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.