Minnesota State Treasurer

This article is about a former political office. For a similar current institution, see Minnesota Department of Management and Budget.

The state treasurer of Minnesota was a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Twenty-six individuals occupied the office of state treasurer from 1858 until the office's abolition in 2003. The final state treasurer was Carol C. Johnson, a DFLer.

Election and term of office

The state treasurer was elected by the people on Election Day in November, and took office on the first Monday of the next January. There was no limit to the number of terms a state treasurer may hold. To be elected state treasurer, a person must have been a qualified voter, permanently resident in the state of Minnesota at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 21 years of age.^[1]

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the state treasurer, the governor was empowered to appoint a successor to serve the balance of the term.^[2] The state treasurer could also be recalled by the voters or removed from office through an impeachment trial.^[3]

Beginning with the 1962 election, the term of the office increased from two to four years.^[4]

Powers and duties

Throughout the office's existence, the state treasurer served as the banker of state government. This function entailed managing and accounting for the state's cash flows, coordinating banking services for state agencies, collecting receipts, issuing payments, reconciling state bank accounts, and servicing the state debt.^[5] Prior to 1983, the state treasurer also administered unclaimed property.^[6]

History

A 1998 constitutional amendment abolished the position of state treasurer, effective January 6, 2003.^[7] The functions of the office were transferred to the commissioner of finance, who is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Minnesota Senate.^[8] The position of commissioner of finance became commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget in 2009.^[9]

List of territorial and state treasurers

Territorial treasurers

Name	Took office	Left office	Party
Calvin A. Tuttle	1849	1853	Whig
George W. Prescott	1853	1854	Democratic
Charles E. Leonard	1854	1857	Democratic
George W. Armstrong	1857	1858	Democratic

State treasurers

No.	Image	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
1		George W. Armstrong	May 24, 1858	January 1, 1860	Democratic
2		Charles Scheffer	January 1, 1860	January 10, 1868	Republican
3		Emil D. Munch	January 10, 1868	January 5, 1872	Republican
4		William Seeger	January 5, 1872	February 7, 1873	Republican
5		Edwin W. Dyke	February 7, 1873	January 7, 1876	Republican
					Democratic
6		William Pfaender	January 7, 1876	January 10, 1880	Republican
7		Charles Kittelson	January 10, 1880	January 5, 1887	Republican
8		Joseph Bobleter	January 5, 1887	January 7, 1895	Republican
9		August T. Koerner	January 7, 1895	January 7, 1901	Republican
10		Julius H. Block	January 7, 1901	January 7, 1907	Republican
11		Clarence C. Dinehart	January 7, 1907	June 8, 1910	Republican
12		Elias Steele Pettijohn	June 8, 1910	January 3, 1911	Republican
13		Walter J. Smith	January 3, 1911	February 14, 1916	Republican
14		Arthur C. Gooding	February 14, 1916	January 2, 1917	Republican
15		Henry Rines	January 2, 1917	July 1, 1925	Republican
16		Edward W. Stark	July 1, 1925	January 4, 1927	Republican
17		Julius A. Schmahl	January 4, 1927	January 5, 1937	Republican
18		C. A. Halverson	January 5, 1937	January 2, 1939	Farmer–Labor
19		Julius A. Schmahl	January 2, 1939	January 2, 1951	Republican
20		Val Bjornson	January 2, 1951	January 3, 1955	Republican
21		Arthur Hansen	January 3, 1955	January 7, 1957	DFL
22		Val Bjornson	January 7, 1957	January 6, 1975	Republican
23		Jim Lord	January 6, 1975	January 3, 1983	DFL
24		Robert W. Mattson Jr.	January 3, 1983	January 5, 1987	DFL
25		Michael McGrath	January 5, 1987	January 4, 1999	DFL
26		Carol C. Johnson	January 4, 1999	January 6, 2003	DFL

Notes on Minnesota political party names

• Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party: On April 15, 1944 the state Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party merged and created the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). It is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.
• Republican Party of Minnesota: From November 15, 1975 to September 23, 1995 the name of the state Republican party was the Independent-Republican party (I-R). The party has always been affiliated with the national Republican Party.