Terri Bonoff

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Terri Bonoff
File:Terri-Bonoff-lo-res-oct-07-.jpg
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 44th district
43rd (2005–2013)
Assumed office
December 7, 2005
Preceded by David Gaither
Personal details
Born (1957-08-01) August 1, 1957 (age 66)
Edina, Minnesota
Political party Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
Spouse(s) Matthew Knopf
Children 4
Residence Minnetonka, Minnesota
Alma mater Clark University
Occupation legislator
Religion Jewish

Terri E. Bonoff (born August 1, 1957) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represents District 44, which includes portions of Minnetonka, Plymouth and Woodland in Hennepin County in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Early life, education, and career

Bonoff grew up in Edina, Minnesota and later attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, earning a degree in psychology and sociology. She began her business career at Jackson Graves, a family-owned women's specialty store. Bonoff then spent five years in the toy and video game business with Tonka Toys and 13 years as Director of Merchandising for the Computer Products Division of the publicly held, New Hope-based Navarre Corporation. After 18 years in business, Bonoff stepped down from Navarre in 1999 to spend time with her husband and four children.

Before being elected to the Senate, Bonoff served on the Minnetonka Planning Commission and as a volunteer for the Hopkins Legislative Action Commission. She eventually became president of the Hopkins Legislative Action Coalition, a guide at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and president of Babe Ruth Baseball in Hopkins/Minnetonka.[1]

Minnesota Senate

Bonoff's career as an elected official began when she won a 2005 special election against Plymouth mayor Judy Johnson to fill the Minnesota Senate seat being vacated by David Gaither. She won a second race against Johnson in the 2006 general election. Bonoff's slogan for all her campaigns has been "Uniting the Middle." She was elected to a second term in 2010 and a third in 2012.[2]

In 2011 Bonoff was elected Deputy Minority Leader of the DFL Senate caucus. “I am honored to have the support of my colleagues in the Senate DFL Caucus ... While we know we face many difficult decisions in the upcoming session, our caucus shares the Governor's vision for growing jobs, improving government, and positioning Minnesota for long-term prosperity,” she said.[3]

Voting record

Transportation

Bonoff supports the South West Light Rail Train.[4] She also leveraged her relationships with the Minnesota DOT to have a study conducted for improvements to I-494.[5]

Health care

Bonoff has been a supporter of MinnesotaCare, a partnership between private industry and government to provide health care to low-income families and individuals. To be enrolled in MinnesotaCare people must first apply and then pay what they can afford for health insurance. Bonoff has said, "Frankly, I thought our MinnesotaCare program and our subsequent reform efforts to enhance quality while keeping costs down should have been the backbone of the Affordable Care Act"[6] and "Minnesota should establish a health insurance exchange that complies with the minimum requirements under federal law and provides exchange consumers the ability to shop based on provider quality as well as cost."[7] In order to do that Bonoff has said the legislature should "evaluate the cost-effectiveness of new and existing health benefits and eliminate barriers to flexible, innovative insurance products, purchasing and finance options."[7]

Education

Bonoff voted in favor of alternative teacher licensing (2012 SF 40, SJ 339). After her vote, she explained, "I would never support anything that threatens the integrity of the teaching profession... Alternative licensure is working. Those states -- there are 35 of them -- that have alternative licensure have strong records of the success."[8]

Bonoff also voted in favor of teacher layoff reform (LIFO, 2012 SF 1690 SJ 3968). After that vote she explained, "School districts should use performance and not just seniority when making layoff decisions."[9]

And Bonoff supported paying down the debt owed to school districts with 2012 HF 2083.[10]

Taxes

  • Voted against raising taxes on top earners.[11]
  • Voted in favor of the 2007 transportation finance bill, which increased the sales tax by .5%,[12][not in citation given] and amounted to an increase in the gas tax by less than 7.5 cents/gallon (2007 HF 946).
  • Voted in favor of the business-supported sales tax from e-retailers with “affiliate nexus” (out-of-state sellers, 2011 SF 27 SJ 1192)[13]
  • Voted to provide $120 million in tax relief to businesses and families (2012 SF 872 SJ 7588).

Voter ID

Bonoff authored a bill calling for voter verification, which would create a link between the Secretary of State's voting rolls and the Department of Motor Vehicles records (2012 SF 2555). This bill did not require a constitutional amendment. Bonoff voted against placing a constitutional amendment for voter ID on the ballot (2012 SF 1577/HF 2738 SJ 4938), against legislation requiring an ID to vote (2011 SF 509 SJ 1452), against attempts to eliminate the practice of “vouching” for others’ identities at the polls (2010 SF 2388 SJ 7462), and against clarifying eligibility rules on the absentee ballot.(2010 SF 2622 SJ 7400).

Marriage

Bonoff voted against placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot to define marriage as between one man and one woman (2011 SF 1308, SJ 1978), saying that the Constitution should not be used to limit people's rights and that marriage should be left to faith communities.[14]

Women's Health

Bonoff has been a longtime advocate of women's health. One bill Bonoff supported was an abortion alternative grant program (SF2330/HF2676).[15]

2008 Campaign for Congress

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Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, 2008

After serving in the Minnesota legislature for two years, Bonoff ran for the 3rd congressional district seat held by the retiring Jim Ramstad.[16][17]

Among the groups that supported Senator Bonoff's Congressional race were Minnesota Forward,[18]EMILY's List,[19] the Minnesota chapter of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now,[20] and AFSCME.[21][22]

On April 12, 2008, Bonoff left the race after Ashwin Madia was endorsed by the DFL party.[23]

Organizations/Individuals Supporting Sen. Bonoff in 2012 Campaign for Re-Election

Bonoff has received endorsements from a diverse array of people and organizations, including:

  • The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fund
  • The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee
  • The National Federation of Independent Businesses[24][25][26]
  • Minneapolis Star Tribune Editorial Board
  • Minnesota Peace and Police Officers
  • Minnesota Association of Professional Employees
  • Conservation Minnesota
  • Clean Water Action.[27]
  • North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters
  • Minnesota Association of Realtors
  • Minnesota Association of Professional Employees
  • Project 515
  • Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters
  • United Transportation Union
  • WomenWinning
  • International Union of Operating Engineers – Local 49
  • Minnesota Medical Association PAC
  • Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection
  • Gov. Arne Carlson
  • Tom Horner
  • Vice President Walter Mondale

Electoral history

  • Minnesota Senate 44th district election, 2012[28]
    • Terri Bonoff (DFL), 27,203 votes (55.81%)
    • David Gaither (R), 21,464 votes (44.04%)
    • Write-in, 75 votes (0.15%)
  • Minnesota Senate 43rd district election, 2010[29]
    • Terri Bonoff (DFL), 18,271 votes (51.74%)
    • Norann Dillon (R), 17,018 votes (48.19%)
    • Write-in, 22 votes (0.06%)
  • Minnesota Senate 43rd district election, 2006[30]
    • Terri Bonoff (DFL), 19,159 votes (51.93%)
    • Judy Johnson (R), 17,697 votes (47.96%)
    • Write-in, 41 votes, (0.11%)
  • Minnesota Senate 43rd district special election, 2005[31]
    • Terri Bonoff (DFL), 5,745 votes (54.44%)
    • Judy Johnson (R), 4,802 votes (45.50%)
    • Write-in, 6 votes (0.06%)

References

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External links

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