Alumni Profiles - Alumni Survey - Alumni A - O - Alumni P - Z

Tim Penny
Waseca, Minnesota

Born on his family crop, hog and dairy farm in Freeborn county, Tim Penny attended country grade school in Mansfield township. A 1969 graduate of Kiester High School, he went on to obtain a Bachelor's degree in political science from Winona State University.

Elected to the Minnesota state senate in 1976, Penny became the first Democrat in over 50 years to represent the Waseca, Freeborn and Fairbault county district. During his six year tenure in the Minnesota legislature, he served as vice-chair of the Transportation Committee and chair of the Railroad Sub-committee. He later chaired the Legislative Commission to Review Administrative Rules. In addition, he was vice-chairman of the Finance Committee. His areas of accomplishment include student financial aid, rural transportation and regulatory reform.

The first Democrat in this century to be elected from Minnesota's First Congressional District, Penny represented southeastern Minnesota in the United States Congress from 1982-94. He averaged better than 70 percent of the vote in his last five elections. At age 42, he voluntarily retired from Congress citing a desire to return home to Minnesota and to devote more time to family. His years in Congress saw service on the Education and Training Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Foreign Agriculture and Hunger.

Penny established himself as a budget watchdog, receiving many awards for his deficit reduction efforts from groups such as the Concord Coalition, the National Taxpayers' Union, Citizens Against Government Waste, Citizens' for a Sound Economy and Watchdogs of the Treasury. Penny served as Co-chair of the Democratic Budget Group, the Porkbuster Coalition and the Truth in Budgeting Taskforce.

Penny continues his involvement in public policy through his work at the University of Minnesota, as a Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the Minnesota Humphrey Institute Policy Forum. He also is a Senior Fellow at the U of M Center for International Food and Agriculture Policy. In addition, he serves on the board of directors for Norwest Funds. He is presently Chair of the Minnesota chapter of the Democratic Leadership Council. He is also a board member for the Concord Coalition, Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Penny is a Senior Counselor to the Minnesota based public relations firm Himle-Horner. His book COMMON CENTS (with co-author Major Garrett) was released by Little-Brown in April of 1995. His book PAYMENT DUE (with co-author Steven Schier) was released by Westview Press in April 1996.

Alumni Profiles - Alumni Survey - Alumni A - O - Alumni P - Z