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Dave Tomassoni | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Tomassoni in 2018 | |
| President pro tempore of theMinnesota Senate | |
| In office January 5, 2021 – August 11, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Kiffmeyer |
| Succeeded by | Ann Rest |
| 14thPresident of the Minnesota Senate | |
| In office November 12, 2020 – January 7, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Jeremy Miller |
| Succeeded by | Jeremy Miller |
| Member of theMinnesota Senate | |
| In office January 3, 2001 – August 11, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Jerry Janezich |
| Succeeded by | Robert Farnsworth (redistricted) |
| Constituency | 5th district (2001–2013) 6th district (2013–2022) |
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 5B district | |
| In office January 5, 1993 – January 2, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Tony Sertich |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Joseph Tomassoni (1952-12-05)December 5, 1952 Bemidji, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | August 11, 2022(2022-08-11) (aged 69) Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 2020) Independent (2020–2022) |
| Spouse | Charlotte |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Denver (BS) |
David Joseph Tomassoni (/tɒməˈsoʊni/tom-ə-SOH-nee; December 5, 1952 – August 11, 2022) was an American politician who served in theMinnesota Legislature from 1993 to 2022. A former member of theMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Tomassoni left the party to become independent in November 2020 and joined theMinnesota Senate Republican Caucus.
Tomassoni chaired the Senate Economic Development Committee from 2007 to 2010. He then chaired the Environment, Economic Development and Agriculture Finance Division, co-chaired the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), and chaired theIron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) four times. Tomassoni was also vice chair of theMinnesota Amateur Sports Commission.
Tomassoni was born inBemidji, Minnesota. He graduated from Chisholm High School inChisholm, Minnesota and received aBSBA from theUniversity of Denver. Tomassoni playedprofessional hockey inItaly for 16 years and for theItalian national team at the1984 Winter Olympics.[1][2]
Tomassoni represented District 5B in theMinnesota House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001. He served as an assistant majority leader from 1997 to 2001.[1]
Tomassoni was elected to the Senate in 2000 and reelected in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2020. He was amajority whip from 2001 to 2007.[1]
Tomassoni was electedpresident of the Minnesota Senate on November 12, 2020, in a rare event where the Senate's Republican majority supported a member of the DFL for Senate president. The move was seen as strategic, given that the slim Republican majority in the Senate could be lost if the Senate president became lieutenant governor.[3] That happened in 2018, when Senate PresidentMichelle Fischbach became lieutenant governor afterTina Smith was appointed to the U.S. Senate.
Three weeks after the2020 elections, when it was determined that the DFL had not won a Senate majority, Tomassoni and SenatorThomas Bakk announced they had left the DFL to form their own "Independent Caucus." Republican Majority LeaderPaul Gazelka welcomed the move and made Tomassoni chair of the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee in exchange for voting with Republicans on floor votes. This changed the Senate's composition to 34 Republicans, 31 Democrats, and two independents.[4]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | David Tomassoni | 25,557 | 57.04 | −5.65pp | |
| Republican | John J. Moren | 19,191 | 42.83 | +5.65pp | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | David Tomassoni | 26,260 | 62.69 | −8.89pp | |
| Republican | Skeeter Tomczak | 15,555 | 37.13 | +8.89pp | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | David Tomassoni | 30,882 | 71.58 | +1.87pp | |
| Republican | Brandon Anderson | 12,220 | 28.32 | −1.87pp | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | David Tomassoni | 22,322 | 69.71 | −8.12pp | |
| Republican | Matt Matasich | 9,666 | 30.19 | +8.09pp | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | David Tomassoni | 26,143 | 77.83 | +0.84pp | |
| Republican | Matt Matasich | 7,422 | 22.10 | −0.81pp | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | David Tomassoni | 27,372 | 76.99 | ||
| Republican | Matt Matasich | 8,147 | 22.91 | ||
Tomassoni and his wife, Charlotte, have three children and lived inChisholm, Minnesota. He was involved in the insurance business.[1] In July 2021, Tomassoni announced he had been diagnosed withamyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[11]
Tomassoni died of ALS at a hospice inDuluth, Minnesota, on August 11, 2022.[12]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of the Minnesota Senate 2020–2021 | Succeeded by |
| President of the Minnesota Senate Acting 2021 | Succeeded by | |
| Minnesota Senate | ||
| Preceded by | President pro tempore of theMinnesota Senate 2021–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Lt. Governor (1858–1973) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Senate-elected (1973–present) | ||