Schrom, Ed (1911-1980)

Biographical information Ed Schrom was born March 17, 1911, in Albany, Minnesota, to John and Julia Schrom. Schrom, a farmer, was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 1970. Schrom’s first election to the Legislature occurred before party designation, when Democrats ran under the liberal banner. He was one of the Legislature’s most conservative members. Schrom clashed with US House Sixth District Representative Richard Nolan over Nolan’s backing of Sen. Ted Kennedy instead President Jimmy Carter. Serving from 1971-1980 (District 26, 1971-1972; District 16, 1973-1980), he represented parts western Stearns County and northern Meeker County. Schrom married Dorothy Beumel on August 26, 1936, in Richmond, Minnesota. The couple had three children. Schrom died on January 20, 1980.

Transcript summary In an interview recorded July 16, 1973, Ed Schrom recounted growing up in a family of 12 children on a farm near Albany, Minnesota. Although his father was a Republican, President Franklin Roosevelt’s actions turned him into a Democrat. Especially important, Schrom said, was Roosevelt’s funding of rural electrification. Schrom was a farmer before retiring and running for the Legislature. He was township treasurer for 20 years and then in 1968 attended the Democratic convention in Chicago before deciding to run for the Minnesota state legislature in the 1970 election. Schrom defeated incumbent Henry Harren, a 16-year veteran of the state senate. He ran on the issue of real estate tax relief and favored shifting more of the cost of education from local real estate taxes to statewide income taxes. He opposed the trend at the time of setting up regional development commissions, arguing that they were an unnecessary additional layer of government. Schrom favored opening legislative and conference committee meetings to the public. Schrom served as the vice chairman of the Tax Committee and a member of the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee. He backed legislation to support the price of milk and to lower liquor taxes.