Jim is honored to represent the people of Eagan and Burnsville in the Minnesota State Senate.

Jim grew up on a farm in Eagan and graduated from Rosemount High School. Jim and his wife Gayle, who teaches German at Eagan High School, have lived in Eagan since 1975.

Their daughter Lindsay and their son Dave attended schools in Eagan and graduated from Eagan High School. Lindsay is an attorney in the Los Angeles area and Dave is a software engineer at Thomson Reuters in Eagan. Jim is a Dunwoody graduate in Machine Design  and he earned his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree at the University of Minnesota. Jim worked in engineering and manufacturing management positions at both Ecolab and 3M. He has extensive business experience, including budgeting, negotiating, and strategic planning. Jim practiced as a licensed professional engineer.

Besides his work-related experience, Jim is very involved in community activities. He helped to form the local District 196 Support Group of the Gifted and Talented. Both he and Gayle served on the board of directors for the Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented. During their involvement with the local group, they lead the effort to establish the District 196 Inventor’s Fair.

Jim visited local classrooms with the 3M Visiting Wizards and 3M TECH program; the TECH program promotes technical careers to high school students. He has also given presentations to high school students and other community groups about the legislature and government in general.  Jim has also served as a judge for the regional tournament for First Robotics. 

In addition to speaking at the high school level, Jim has also addressed public safety concerns at the the University of St.Catherine and has served as a moderator for the ISD 196 School Board candidate forum.

Jim has made connections to the larger Minnesota community through his extensive efforts at fundraising for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Cancer Society and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. He rode in the MS TRAM (The Ride Across Minnesota) nine times and raised thousands of dollars for the MS Society.

In addition to these fund raising efforts, Jim lends his support as a member of Easter Lutheran Church, Friends of Caponi Art Park, Friends of the Wescott Library and Friends of the Farm.

Jim is also a leisure time bike rider, woodworker, classic sports car buff, and videographer. He and his wife Gayle are members of a gourmet club. They are also members of the Minnesota Street Rod Association. Jim is a lifetime member of the Corvettes of Minnesota.