EDUCATION:
1968 Alden-Conger High School, Alden, Freeborn County, Minnesota (High School Diploma)
1968-1972 St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota (Bachelor of Arts). Graduate of The Paracollege.
1972-1973 Mansfield College, Oxford University, Oxford, England. Graduate studies in theology.
1973-1976 University of North Dakota Law School, Grand Forks, North Dakota (Juris Doctor). Member of the Moot Court Association; an editor of "Rhadamanthus", the law school newspaper; and member of Phi Alpha Delta, legal fraternity.
PROFESSIONAL:
October 1976. Licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota.
April 1977. Admitted to practice law before the U.S. Federal District Court.
District of Minnesota.
October 1976 - September 1979. Assistant Freeborn County Attorney.
October 1976 - December 1990. A Shareholder in the professional corporation then known as Tuveson, Goldman, Nelson & Callahan Chartered, a general practice law firm working in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury, bankruptcy, corporate, family, probate, municipal, township, agricultural drainage, and real estate law.
July 1988 - July 1990. Third Judicial District Assistant Public Defender, Freeborn and Mower County, Minnesota. The Public Defender system was started in the Third Judicial District in July 1988.
1980 - 1990. City Attorney for the City of Alden, in Freeborn County, Minnesota, and Assistant City Attorney for the City of New Richland in Waseca County, Minnesota.
1982 - 1990. Freeborn County Township Officers - Association Legal Counsel. Providing legal services to all the townships in Freeborn County.
1984 - 1990. The Minnesota Family Farm Law Project. An attorney handling family farm bankruptcy cases throughout Southeastern Minnesota.
January 1991 to Present. Freeborn County Attorney. I was first elected November 1990 and assumed office January 6, 1991, and re-elected November 1994, November 1998 and November 2002, November 2006, and November, 2010. The County Attorney is the Chief Prosecutor for crimes occurring within Freeborn County and provides legal advice and services to Freeborn County Government. In addition, the office prosecutes all juvenile crimes occurring within the County, collects child support and protects children and vulnerable adults by initiating petitions for court-ordered services and protection. Three Assistant County Attorneys, a Victim-Witness Coordinator, and two Legal Assistants work under my supervision.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS/TRAINING:
Freeborn County Bar Association Member 1976 to present. I have held all offices in the organization.
Tenth District Minnesota Bar Association Member 1976 to present. District Chair for the Tenth District from May 1991 to May 1992. The Tenth District includes Freeborn, Mower and Fillmore Counties in Minnesota and is a regional division of the Minnesota State Bar Association.
Minnesota State Bar Association Member 1976 to present. Delegate to the annual State Bar Convention from the Tenth District on 15 occasions. Member of the MSBA Sentencing and Prisons Task Force Committee from July 2004 through December 2004.
Minnesota County Attorneys Association PRESIDENT November 2003 to November, 2004. Member of Board of Directors November 1996 to present. Member of the MCAA Ethics Committee 1999 to present. Member of the MCAA Education Committee November 2005 to present. Member of the Civil Law Committee 2010 to present. Member MCAA Foundation Board of Directors 2003 to present.
Minnesota Supreme Court Children=s Justice Initiative Statewide Advisory Committee. Member August 2003 to August 2006. Appointed by Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
National District Attorneys Association Member 1991 to present. As a rural prosecutor, I was selected to attend an NDAA Community Prosecution Conference in Washington, D.C. in April 1998.
National Advocacy Center Alumni September 2000; July 2003; and September 2006. As a state prosecutor, I have attended three, week-long trial advocacy courses at the NAC which is located on the campus of the University of South Carolina.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Jimmy Royce Training Center. Alexandria, Virginia Alumni. March 2004. I attended the Trial Advocacy School for Sexual Offender Prosecutors.
Senator Klobuchar Advisory Committee for U.S. Attorney. Member of the Committee, January 2009 through March 2009. The committee recommended the appointment of B. Todd Jones, current U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota.
Phi Alpha Delta - Legal Fraternity Member, 1974 to present.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT/MEMBERSHIPS:
Albert Lea - Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce. Member 1976-1991 as an owner/partner in the law firm then known as Tuveson, Goldman, Nelson and Callahan Chartered. Personal member of the Chamber from 1999 to present.
Albert Lea Art Center. Member of the Board of Directors from 1976 - 1982; Chairman of the Board of Directors, 1981.
Albert Lea Audubon Society. Vice President of the Board of Directors. December 2002 to January 2004.
Albert Lea Community Child Care Center. Member of the Board of Directors, 1986 to 1990.
Albert Lea Eagles Club (F.O.E) Aerie 2258. Member, March 2003 to present.
Albert Lea Elks Club. Member, 1984 to 2010 when the club disbanded.
Albert Lea Moose Club. Member March 2010 to present.
Albert Lea Exchange Club. Member, 1983 to present. President 1990-1991 and 1999-2000.
Albert Lea Family Y. Member, 1988 to present. Member of the Board of Directors March 1998 to January 2004. Served as Chief Volunteer Officer (CVO) January 2002 to January 2003. Member of the Heritage Club (past CVOs), January 2003 to present.
Albert Lea - Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce. Member from 1976 - 1990 as an owner/partner in the law firm, then known as Tuveson, Goldman, Nelson and Callahan Chartered. Personal member of the Chamber since 2000 to present.
Albert Lea Kiwanis Club. Member, 1976 to 1981.
Albert Lea Masonic Lodge - Western Star Loge No. 28. Member since 1979 to present. Member of the Osman Shrine 2009 to present.
American Red Cross - Freeborn County Chapter. Member of the Board of Directors, August 2001 to January 2004.
City and County Employees Federal Credit Union. Member of the Board of Directors, January 1996 to present.
River Trails Girl Scout Council, Rochester, Minnesota (Southeastern Minnesota). Member of the Board of Directors, from 1984 to 1990. A Vice President of the Council 1989 to 1990. Member of the Council Strategic Planning Committee 2001.
Salem Lutheran Church (ELCA), Albert Lea, Minnesota. Member 1950 to present. Former Sunday School teacher and former Confirmation teacher. I also help lead an adult discussion group known as "Sunday Night Together" which meets two times a month, September-May. Member of the Salem Prayer Team 2006 to present. President of the Congregation January 1998 to January 2004. During my Congregational Presidency, the Church called a new pastor, held a capital fund drive, and began building an addition to the Church. May 2006 to May 2007 Chair of the Salem 100th Anniversary Committee.
Senior Resources of Freeborn County. Founding Member of the Board of Directors 1980 to 1989. Chairman of the Board of Directors October 1987 to October 1989.
Sons of the American Legion, Leo Carey American Legion Post, Albert Lea, Minnesota. Member 1984 to present.
Southeastern Minnesota Synod Council (ELCA). Synod Council member June 2006 to June 2010. Served as Chair of the Mission Plasnning and Action Committee June 2008 to June 2010. Member of the Lay School of Theology Board of Directors June 2003 to December 2007. Dean of the Blue Earth River Conference June 2010 to June 2012.