Joe Bertram (Minnesota politician)

Joe Bertram, Sr.^[1] (born July 3, 1954) is an American politician who served in the Minnesota Senate from 1981 to 1996 as (DFL) State Senator from Paynesville in District 14.^[2][3]

Joe Bertram
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 14th district
In office January 5, 1993 – January 9, 1996
Preceded by	Florian Chmielewski
Succeeded by	Michelle Fischbach
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 16th district
In office January 6, 1981 – January 4, 1993
Preceded by	Ben Omann
Succeeded by	Joanne Benson
Personal details
Born	(1954-07-03) July 3, 1954 (age 71) Stearns County, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
Spouse	Mary Lee Imdieke
Relations	Jeff Bertram (brother)
Children	three
Residence	Paynesville, Minnesota
Alma mater	St. Cloud State University, Bemidji State University
Occupation	farmer

Bertram was accused of shoplifting a leather vest and trying to bribe the store owner into not reporting it in 1996. His brother, State Representative Jeff Bertram then began threatening people to not report other behaviors by his brother, for which Jeff Bertram was Censured. The Senate was beginning expulsion talks for Joe Bertram when pled guilty and resigned.^[4][5][6]