Wikipedia

Peter Fischer (politician)

Peter Fischer (born June 21, 1958) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2013. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Fischer represents District 44A in the central Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Maplewood, Little Canada, and North St. Paul, and parts of Ramsey County.[1][2]

Peter Fischer
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 44A district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2013
Preceded byredrawn district
Personal details
Born (1958-06-21) June 21, 1958 (age 66)
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
SpouseKristi
Children3
ResidenceMaplewood, Minnesota
EducationLakewood Community College (A.A.)
University of St. Thomas (B.A.)
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Early life and education

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Fischer was raised in Maplewood, Minnesota.[3] He attended Lakewood Community College, graduating with an A.A., and later the University of St. Thomas, graduating with a B.A. in business administration.[1]

Fischer served in the Maplewood government on the Parks Commission and the Human Relations Commission.[1] He also works in the finance division of Face to Face, a nonprofit organization serving housing insecure youth in St. Paul.

Minnesota House of Representatives

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Fischer was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2012 and has been reelected every two years since. He first ran in an open seat created after legislative redistricting.[1]

Fischer chairs the Human Services Policy Committee and also sits on the Human Services Finance, Health Finance and Policy, and the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committees. He chaired the Water Division from 2019 to 2020 and the Behavioral Health Division from 2021 to 2022.[1]

Environment and natural resources

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Fischer authored legislation to ban the wolf hunt in Minnesota.[4] The measure was included in an amendment to a 2019 omnibus environment bill after contentious debate and bipartisan votes for and against. The provision was not taken up by the Republican controlled Senate and did not become law.[5][6] Fischer authored legislation to limit "body-grip" style hunting traps because they inadvertently kill hunting dogs and other pets.[7] He introduced bills that would ban the sale and use of lead fishing equipment in order to protect native swans, eagles and other wildlife.[8][9]

Water quality issues

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Fischer wrote legislation that created a Legislative Water Commission, and served as its co-chair until it was discontinued in 2019.[10] As chair of the Water Division, he carried legislation to protect groundwater, including monitoring private wells.[11][12] He has supported a ban on trichloroethylene after state regulators found a manufacturer in White Bear Lake was illegally polluting for more than a decade.[13] He wrote a bill that would create a state program to prevent over-salting of sidewalks, roads, and parking lots, and supported efforts to address farm fertilizer nitrate's effect on water quality.[14][15][16] Fischer has stated his openness to imposing greater regulations on frac sand mining.[17][18] He has supported calls to address water contamination by microplastics and lead.[19]

Other political positions

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Fischer has carried "right-to-repair" legislation that would expand the ability of independent third-party businesses to repair electronics and other products.[20][21] His bill would require public access to the parts, tools and manuals of a number of consumer products.[22] He wrote legislation that would study a redesign of Minnesota's state flag, which was criticized for its design and depiction of Native Americans.[23][24] He co-chaired a joint legislative commission on housing affordability.[25][26]

Electoral history

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2012 Minnesota State Representative - House 43A[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Peter Fischer 11,616 52.71
Republican Stacey Stout 10,374 47.08
Write-in 46 0.21
Total votes 22,036 100.0
2014 Minnesota State Representative - House 43A[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Peter Fischer (incumbent) 8,314 50.64
Republican Stacey Stout 8,068 49.14
Write-in 35 0.21
Total votes 16,171 100.0
2016 Minnesota State Representative - House 43A[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Peter Fischer (incumbent) 11,970 54.95
Republican Bob Cardinal 9,767 44.84
Write-in 45 0.21
Total votes 21,782 100.0
2018 Minnesota State Representative - House 43A[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Peter Fischer (incumbent) 12,253 61.36
Republican Bob Cardinal 7,691 38.52
Write-in 24 0.12
Total votes 19,968 100.0
2020 Minnesota State Representative - House 43A[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Peter Fischer (incumbent) 14,496 60.69
Republican Paul Babin 9,360 39.19
Write-in 29 0.12
Total votes 23,885 100.0
2022 Minnesota State Representative - House 44A[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Peter Fischer (incumbent) 9,918 62.84
Republican Alex Pinkney 5,851 37.07
Write-in 15 0.10
Total votes 15,784 100.0

Personal life

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Fischer is married to his wife, Kristi. They have two daughters and a son. They reside in Maplewood, Minnesota.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Fischer, Peter". Legislators Past & Present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  2. ^ "Rep. Peter Fischer (44A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  3. ^ "Bio". Fischer for Representative. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  4. ^ Dunbar, Elizabeth (April 30, 2019). "Dead moose, puppies not enough: House bans recreational wolf hunt". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  5. ^ Orenstein, Walker (May 25, 2019). "Fight over wolf hunting in Minn. is heating up again". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  6. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2019-05-14). "The long-simmering fight over wolf hunting in Minnesota is political — and emotional". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  7. ^ Anderson, Dennis (May 17, 2015). "Proposed changes to 'body-grip' traps have not gained traction". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  8. ^ Prather, Shannon (February 5, 2021). "Bird deaths fuel push for Minnesota lead tackle ban". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  9. ^ Stanley, Greg (February 24, 2021). "As trumpeter swans die, Minnesota lawmakers consider banning lead jigs and fishing tackle". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  10. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2019-06-11). "Minnesota's Legislative Water Commission, left in limbo, hopes for quick resuscitation". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  11. ^ Dunbar, Elizabeth (January 8, 2015). "Minnesota tries new approach to limited groundwater". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  12. ^ Dunbar, Elizabeth (May 19, 2014). "Environmentalists claim victories at Minn. Capitol". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  13. ^ Orenstein, Walker (2019-05-28). "How a bipartisan plan to ban the use of carcinogenic TCE fell apart at the Minnesota Legislature". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  14. ^ Bjorhus, Jennifer (March 19, 2019). "Minnesota lawmakers aim to cut overuse of salt on roads, walkways". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  15. ^ Marohn, Kristi (March 25, 2019). "Bill could help curb oversalting in Minnesota". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  16. ^ Tribune, Greg Stanley Star. "Minnesota's battle over wells, water and nitrates lands in one farmer's back yard". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  17. ^ Dunbar, Elizabeth (October 30, 2013). "Mahtomedi frac sand mining forum draws hundreds over concerns". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  18. ^ Meador, Ron (2013-11-01). "Minnesota's frac-sand future, with lessons from Wisconsin, explored by panel". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  19. ^ Dunbar, Elizabeth (August 15, 2019). "Minnesota agency asks Water Gremlin to halt some work after new contamination discovered". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  20. ^ St. Anthony, Neal (March 24, 2019). "Right-to-repair bill appears headed for first time to floor of Minnesota House". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  21. ^ Stofferahn, Justin (2022-11-21). "Minnesota can play a big role in challenging corporate power". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  22. ^ St. Anthony, Neal (February 29, 2020). "'Fair repair' movement gaining ground with Minnesota legislators". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  23. ^ Nelson, Emma (April 9, 2022). "Some Minnesota legislators want to rethink state flag". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  24. ^ Ibrahim, Mohamed (March 24, 2022). "Lawmakers push to redesign Minnesota state flag and seal". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  25. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (August 17, 2019). "As new housing groups convene, some ask: Is this just more talk?". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  26. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie; Webster, MaryJo (August 9, 2021). "Minnesota legislators aim to spur creation of more entry-level housing". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  27. ^ "2012 Minnesota House Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  28. ^ "2014 Minnesota House Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  29. ^ "2016 Minnesota House Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  30. ^ "2018 Minnesota House Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  31. ^ "2020 Minnesota House Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  32. ^ "2022 Minnesota House Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
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