Patty Acomb | |
|---|---|
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 45B district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Jon Applebaum |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1965-09-28)September 28, 1965 (age 60) Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Craig |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Education | University of Minnesota (BS) |
| Occupation | Legislator |
| Website | Government websiteCampaign website |
Patty Acomb (/ˈeɪkoʊm/AY-kohm;[1] born September 28, 1965) is an American politician serving in theMinnesota House of Representatives since 2019. A member of theMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Acomb represents District 45B in the westernTwin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the city ofMinnetonka and parts ofHennepin County.[2][3]
Acomb was born inMinnetonka, Minnesota, and graduated fromHopkins High School. She attended theUniversity of Minnesota, graduating with aB.S. in natural resources.[2]
Acomb has worked at theMinnesota Department of Natural Resources and theHennepin County Environmental Services.[2] She also worked on energy policy for the National League of Cities.[4]
Acomb was elected to theMinnetonka 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, theMetropolitan Council Water Supply Advisory Committee, and theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency's governmental advisory committee. GovernorMark Dayton appointed Acomb to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources from 2015 to 2018.[2]
Acomb was elected to theMinnesota House of Representatives in2018 and has been reelected every two years since. She first ran after two-termDFL incumbentJon 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]
Acomb 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 theCOP26 climate change conference inGlasgow in 2021.[13][14]
| 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 | ||||
Acomb and her husband, Craig, have two children. She resides inMinnetonka, Minnesota.[2]