Florian Chmielewski

{{Short description|American politician (1927–2024)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name=Florian Chmielewski

| image name=

| order=

| office=President of the Minnesota Senate

| term=1987

| preceded=Jerome M. Hughes

| succeeded=Jerome M. Hughes

| office3=Member of the Minnesota Senate

| term_start3=January 1971

| term_end3=January 1997

| preceded3=

| succeeded3=

| party=Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

| birth_date= {{birth date|1927|2|10}}

| birth_place=Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota, U.S.

| death_date={{death date and age|2024|4|23|1927|2|10}}

| death_place=Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota, U.S.

| alma_mater=University of Minnesota

| occupation=Television Executive
Musician
Politician

| spouse={{marriage|Patricia Stolquist|1956|2003|end=died}}

| children=4

}}

Florian W. Chmielewski Sr. (February 10, 1927 – April 23, 2024) was an American musician and politician. He played as an accordion player with the Chmielewski Family Funtime Band, performing polka music throughout the midwest.[http://www.funtimeband.com/ Chmielewski Family Funtime Band]

Chmielewski was elected to the Senate in 1970, becoming chair of the employment committee in 1981. During a special session in 1987, Chmielewski was elected to serve as president, due to the absence of State Sen. Jerome M. Hughes, who both preceded and succeeded Chmielewski in the position.[http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=10098 Minnesota Legislators Past and Present] In 1996, Chmielewski was placed on probation after pleading guilty to a gross misdemeanor for providing family members state long-distance access codes, allowing them to make phone calls at state expense.{{Cite news |last=Whereatt |first=Robert |date=1996-04-23 |title=Chmielewski sentencing marks the end of Phonegate |work=Star Tribune |pages=B1, B7}}

Chmielewski appeared on the weekly television show, Chmielewski Funtime, for over 35 years. He continued performing with his band up until his death on April 23, 2024, at the age of 97.{{cite web |last1=Brink |first1=Pat |title=Polka Legend Florian Chmielewski Dies at 97 |url=https://www.fox21online.com/2024/04/24/polka-legend-florian-chmielewski-dies-at-97/ |website=KQDS-TV |date=April 24, 2024 |access-date=April 24, 2024}}{{cite web |title=Polka legend and former Minnesota Sen. Florian Chmielewski has died |url=https://www.wdio.com/front-page/top-stories/polka-legend-and-former-minnesota-sen-florian-chmielewski-has-died |website=WDIO-DT |date=April 24, 2024 |access-date=April 24, 2024}}