Jim Ramstad

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jim Ramstad

| image name = Jim Ramstad Portrait.jpg

| state = Minnesota

| district = 3rd

| birth_name = James Marvin Ramstad

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|5|6}}

| birth_place = Jamestown, North Dakota, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|11|5|1946|5|6}}

| death_place = Wayzata, Minnesota, U.S.

| party = Republican

| term_start = January 3, 1991

| term_end = January 3, 2009

| preceded = Bill Frenzel

| succeeded = Erik Paulsen

| office1 = Member of the Minnesota Senate

| constituency1 = 43rd district (1981–1983)
45th district (1983–1991)

| term_start1 = January 6, 1981

| term_end1 = January 3, 1991

| predecessor1 = Emily Anne Staples

| successor1 = Judy Traub

| spouse = {{marriage|Kathryn Mitchell|2005}}

| occupation = attorney, political assistant

| education = University of Minnesota (BA)
George Washington University (JD)

| branch = United States Army Reserve

| serviceyears = 1968–1975

| rank = First Lieutenant

| children = 1

}}

James Marvin Ramstad (May 6, 1946 – November 5, 2020) was an American lawyer and politician who represented Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Ramstad served in the Minnesota Senate from 1981 to 1991.

Ramstad was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1981 and was reelected until 1990, when he was elected to represent Minnesota’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ramstad won reelection in the suburban congressional district eight times, all by landslide margins.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-28 |title=Former US Rep. Jim Ramstad, champion of recovery, dies at 74 |url=https://apnews.com/article/health-jim-ramstad-mental-health-minneapolis-minnesota-b1ac699cccde59117322a039d3ad82c5 |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}} He had a reputation as a moderate Republican.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-06 |title=With Jim Ramstad's death, Minnesota has lost a committed recovery advocate |url=https://www.minnpost.com/mental-health-addiction/2020/11/with-jim-ramstads-death-minnesota-has-lost-a-committed-recovery-advocate/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}} Ramstad chose to retire and not seek reelection in 2008. He was succeeded by Republican State Representative Erik Paulsen. Throughout his legislative career and later life, Ramstad, empowered by his prior struggles with alcoholism, was a notable advocate for addiction recovery.{{Cite web |title=Former Rep. Jim Ramstad has died at 74 |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/05/longtime-rep-jim-ramstad-a-champion-for-addiction-help-has-died |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=MPR News |date=November 6, 2020 |language=en}}

In 2020, Ramstad died from Parkinson's disease at the age of 74.

Early life and education

Ramstad was born in Jamestown, North Dakota on May 6, 1946.{{cite web|title = Candidate Biography: Jim Marvin Ramstad|publisher=Fox News|url = http://elections.foxnews.com/candidate/jim-marvin-ramstad/|access-date = 2008-10-24}} He was educated at the University of Minnesota and the George Washington University Law School. He was an officer in the United States Army Reserve from 1968 to 1974.{{cite web| title = Veterans in the US House of Representatives 109th Congress| publisher=Navy League| url = http://www.navyleague.org/legislative_affairs/HouseVets.pdf | access-date = 2006-12-09 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070626235918/http://www.navyleague.org/legislative_affairs/HouseVets.pdf |archive-date = 2007-06-26}} He also worked as a private practice attorney and as a legislative aide to the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Career

He served on the Wayzata-Plymouth Chemical Health Commission, Plymouth Human Rights Commission, and the Minnesota State Human Rights Advisory Committee from 1979 to 1980.

Ramstad was a Republican member of the Minnesota State Senate from 1981 to 1990 before entering the U.S. Congress. He served in the 102nd, 103rd, 104th, 105th, 106th, 107th, 108th, 109th, and 110th congresses, beginning on January 3, 1991. He first defeated former Minneapolis city councilman Lou DeMars in the 1990 election.

=Tenure=

Ramstad was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 until 2009, representing Minnesota's 3rd congressional district, one of eight congressional districts in Minnesota. On September 17, 2007 Ramstad announced he would not seek reelection in 2008.{{cite web| last =Fred Frommer| first =Fred| title =Ramstad announces his retirement from Congress| publisher=Minnesota Public Radio| date =2007-09-17| url =http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/09/17/ramstad/| access-date = September 17, 2007}} He reiterated his statement on December 19, 2007.{{cite web|title=Ramstad Says He Has No 'Plans' To Seek Re-Election |publisher=WCCO |date=2007-12-19 |url=http://wcco.com/local/jim.ramstad.no.2.614336.html |access-date=2007-12-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221175836/http://wcco.com/local/jim.ramstad.no.2.614336.html |archive-date=December 21, 2007 }}

Ramstad considered ending discrimination against those suffering from mental health and addiction problems a major part of his legacy. He worked under both Republican and Democratic majorities to pass a Mental Health Parity Bill. Mental Health Parity was eventually passed and signed into law in December, 2008.{{cite web| title =Interview with IOP Fellow Jim Ramstad| publisher =Harvard Citizen| date =2009-04-29| url =http://harvardcitizen.com/2009/04/29/interview-with-iop-fellow-jim-ramstad/| access-date =2009-12-03| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://archive.today/20110817175709/http://harvardcitizen.com/2009/04/29/interview-with-iop-fellow-jim-ramstad/| archive-date =August 17, 2011| df =mdy-all}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/06/nation/former-us-representative-jim-ramstad-champion-recovery-dies-74 | title=Ramstad Obituary | website=Boston Globe}}

Image:Jim Ramstad.jpg

Ramstad was mentioned as a possible candidate for Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the administration of President Barack Obama.{{cite web|title=Drug Czar Ramstad? |publisher=Minnesota Independent |date=2008-12-03 |url=http://minnesotaindependent.com/19097/drug-czar-ramstad |access-date=2008-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206065121/http://minnesotaindependent.com/19097/drug-czar-ramstad |archive-date=December 6, 2008 }} However, the position eventually went to former Seattle police chief Gil Kerlikowske.

Ramstad considered running for Governor of Minnesota in the 2010 election,{{cite web|url=http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2009/06/good-or-bad-gops-jim-ramstad-could-be-ultimate-man-middle-2010-governors-rac |title=For good or bad, GOP's Jim Ramstad could be the ultimate man in the middle of 2010 governor's race |publisher=MinnPost |author=Doug Grow |date=June 30, 2009 |access-date=December 15, 2014}} but decided not to.{{cite web|url=http://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2009/07/gops-jim-ramstad-decides-not-enter-governors-race |title=GOP's Jim Ramstad decides not to enter governor's race |publisher=MinnPost |author=Doug Grow |date=July 14, 2009 |access-date=December 15, 2014}}

At the time of his death, Ramstad was a resident fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics where he was leading a study group titled The Policy and Politics of Addiction.{{cite web| url = http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=526170| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090213171807/http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=526170| archive-date = 2009-02-13| title = The Harvard Crimson :: News :: IOP Names Spring Fellows}}

=Political positions=

Ramstad was a member of The Republican Main Street Partnership. He was pro-choice and supported embryonic stem cell research. He was opposed to gay marriage.[http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Jim_Ramstad.htm Jim Ramstad on the Issues] Retrieved October 24, 2006 He voted in favor of an amendment to a whistleblower protection bill that would have allowed the government to influence stem-cell research.Clerk of the House: [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll150.xml Final Vote Results for Roll Call 150]

He was considered to be the most moderate Republican member of the Minnesota delegation in the 109th Congress, scoring 68 percent conservative by a conservative group{{cite web | title = ACU Ratings of Congress, 2006| publisher=American Conservative Union | year = 2006 | url = http://www.acuratings.org/2006all.htm#MN | access-date = 2007-09-08 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070903043949/http://www.acuratings.org/2006all.htm#MN |archive-date = 2007-09-03}} and 21% progressive by a liberal group.{{cite web|title=Leading with the Left |publisher=Progressive Punch |url=http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=MN3 |access-date=September 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929031638/http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=MN3 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}

Personal life

Ramstad was a recovering alcoholic. For a time, he was Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy's Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor.{{cite news|title =Challenging the Second 'A' in A.A.|work=New York Times|date=May 6, 2011|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/fashion/08anon.html|access-date=2016-01-25|last1=Colman|first1=David}} He was a long-time advocate for addiction treatment and recovery services, and at the time of his death he had been sober for 39 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/06/nation/former-us-representative-jim-ramstad-champion-recovery-dies-74 | title=Ramstad Obituary | website=Boston Globe}}

Ramstad's sister, Sheryl Ramstad, is a Tax Court judge in Minnesota. Ramstad was a member of the United Church of Christ.

On February 25, 2008, it was announced that Ramstad had been elected to the board of directors of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.{{cite web|title =U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad Elected to CASA Board of Directors|publisher=CASA Columbia|url =http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/templates/PressReleases.aspx?articleid=517&zoneid=66|access-date = 2008-02-25}}

In 2010, Ramstad joined alliantgroup as a senior advisor on their Strategic Advisory Board.{{cite web |url=http://www.minnesotabusiness.com/article/alliantgroup-bolsters-top-tax-talent-congressman-jim-ramstad |title=Alliantgroup Bolsters Top Tax Talent with Congressman Jim Ramstad | Minnesota Business Magazine | Minnesota Business Blogs | Minnesota Business |access-date=2011-11-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422131410/http://www.minnesotabusiness.com/article/alliantgroup-bolsters-top-tax-talent-congressman-jim-ramstad |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}

He died of Parkinson's disease on November 5, 2020, aged 74, at his home in Wayzata, Minnesota.{{cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/05/longtime-rep-jim-ramstad-a-champion-for-addiction-help-has-died |title=Longtime Rep. Jim Ramstad, a champion for addiction help, has died |publisher=Mprnews.org |date=2020-11-05 |access-date=2020-11-06}}

Committee assignments

Ways and Means Committee
Subcommittee on Oversight (Ranking Member)
Subcommittee on Health
Co-chair of the Addiction Treatment and Recovery Caucus
Co-chair of the Disabilities Caucus
Co-chair of the Law Enforcement Caucus
Co-chair of the Medical Technology Caucus

Electoral history

class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"

|+ {{ushr|Minnesota|3

}: Results 1990–2006{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |access-date=2008-01-10 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070725184700/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=July 25, 2007 }}

!|Year

!|DFL

!|Votes

!|Pct

!|Republican

!|Votes

!|Pct

!|3rd Party

!|Party

!|Votes

!|Pct

!|3rd Party

!|Party

!|Votes

!|Pct

|1990

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Lou Demars

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |96,395

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |33%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jim Ramstad

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |195,833

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |67%

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Write-ins

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |624

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |<1%

|1992

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Paul Mandell

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |104,606

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |33%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jim Ramstad

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |200,240

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |64%

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Dwight Fellman

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Grass Roots

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |9,164

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |3%

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Write-ins

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |721

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |<1%

|1994

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Bob Olson

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |62,211

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |26%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jim Ramstad

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |173,223

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |73%

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Write-ins

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1,097

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |<1%

|1996

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Stan J. Leino

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |87,350

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |30%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jim Ramstad

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |205,816

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |70%

| |*

|1998

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Stan J. Leino

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |66,505

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |23%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jim Ramstad

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |203,731

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |72%

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Derek W. Schramm

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Minnesota Taxpayers

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |12,823

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |5%

| |*

|2000

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Sue Shuff

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |98,219

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |30%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jim Ramstad

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |222,571

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |68%

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Bob Odden

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Libertarian

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |5,302

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |2%

|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |Arne Niska

|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |Constitution

|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |2,970

|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |1%

|2002

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Darryl Stanton}}

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |82,575

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |28%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jim Ramstad

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |213,334

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |72%

| |*

|2004

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Deborah Watts

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |126,665

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |35%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jim Ramstad

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |231,871

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |65%

| |*

|2006

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Wendy Wilde

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |99,588

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |35%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jim Ramstad

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |184,333

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |65%

| |*

{{refbegin}}Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1996, write-ins received 417 votes. In 1998, write-ins received 250 votes. In 2002, write-ins received 309 votes. In 2004, write-ins received 356 votes. In 2006, write-ins received 323 votes.

References

External links

{{CongLinks | congbio=r000033 | votesmart= | fec=H0MN00013 | congress= }}
{{C-SPAN|18226}}
[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/congress/ramstad/ MPR – Campaign 2006: Jim Ramstad] profile from Minnesota Public Radio

{{US House succession box|

state=Minnesota|

district=3|

before=Bill Frenzel|

after= Erik Paulsen |

years=January 3, 1991 – January 3, 2009|

}}

{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 102nd–110th United States Congresses |state=Minnesota}}