Dahl, Harold J. (1930-1989)

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/legpol_oh/12 [16748]

Biographical Information: Harold J. Dahl was born in Duluth, Minnesota on April 27, 1930. In 1952, Dahl graduated from Northwestern University to become an accountant, but later decided to transition to law. He worked as an attorney and law clerk in Duluth before relocating to Howard Lake in 1964 to start his own private practice. Dahl’s experiences as an elected attorney eventually motivated him to run for the Minnesota House of Representative, where he served District 22B between 1973 and 1977. Dahl passed away on February 20, 1989.

Minnesota state Representative for District 22B (1973-1978) elected from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor caucus and representing Hennepin, McLeod, Meeker, and Wright counties.

Transcript Summary: In an interview conducted on July 22, 1977, Harold J. Dahl discussed his political career as the Minnesota state Representative in District 22B. Dahl noted that he originally became politically involved through his work as an attorney in Duluth, where he was one of only a handful of Democrats present within the local judiciary throughout the 1960s. Dahl mentioned that throughout his tenure in the legislature, he was particularly active in committees concerned with health and welfare, appropriations, and local and urban affairs. Likewise, Dahl discussed some of the legislation that he was particularly proud of sponsoring including a bill which helped to allocate $8.3 million to pharmacies and nursing homes.

Interview conducted by Calvin Gower and James Robak