Harold LeVander

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Karl Harold Phillip LeVander (October 10, 1910 – March 30, 1992) was an American politician. He served as the 32nd governor of Minnesota from January 2, 1967 to January 4, 1971 as a Republican.

His 1966 victory over incumbent, Karl Rolvaag, a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), sent him to Saint Paul to become the 32nd governor of the state.

LeVander was born in Swede Home, Nebraska (near Stromsburg, Polk County) and went to high school in Watertown, Minnesota, followed by an undergraduate course at Gustavus Adolphus College, graduating in 1932. He then attended the University of Minnesota Law School. After graduating, he worked as assistant county attorney for Dakota County from 1935–1939. LeVander also worked for the law firm of Stassen & Ryan, which was located in South St. Paul while teaching speech and coaching debate at Macalester College. He was also active in local commerce, acting as President of South Saint Paul's Chamber of Commerce from 1952 to 1954 and as President of the South Saint Paul United Federal Savings and Loan Association from 1953 until 1967. He was politically connected, having worked with future governor Harold Stassen and future U.S. Representative Elmer Ryan in their law firm.

LeVander took the governorship, having won a plurality of the popular vote, however the DFL-controlled legislature overrode two of his vetoes to levy the state's first sales tax. During his term, he also created the Metropolitan Council, the state Pollution Control Agency, and the inaugural Human Rights Department, and ratified the twenty-sixth amendment, which lowered the minimum voting age to eighteen.

In a surprise move in 1970, LeVander declined to seek reelection, returning to his law practice and business interests, becoming a director of The St. Paul Companies (1973–1981), the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (1974–1981), and the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce (1975–1978).

[edit] References

• Minnesota Historical Society

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