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| Affiliation | MN Independence |
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| Name | Pamela Joy Ellison |
| Address |
St. Paul, Minnesota , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | http://pamforgov.com/ |
| Born |
November 02, 1957
(66 years)
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| Contributor | The Oncoming Storm |
| Last Modifed | The Oncoming Storm
Aug 15, 2006 09:19am |
| Tags |
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| Info | Pamela Joy (Ellison) Anderson was born on November 2, 1957 at Lutheran General Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Born to proud parents Norman and Beverly Anderson, the young family relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota in early 1958.
Pam learned her strong work ethic from her father who worked while attending college at Northwestern College and then Bethel Seminary. She endured seven moves from her birth until she entered kindergarten in the fall of 1962 in northeast Minneapolis.
After her father graduated from seminary, he was called to pastor a new church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Pam pursued her education from fourth grade through the first half of her seventh grade year in Calgary, where she began to learn French. In December 1969 the family moved to Edmonton, Alberta. Pam continued her education through the public school system in Edmonton; continuing to study French until she graduated from high school in 1975.
What did Pam learn from these years of relocating and living in Canada? She learned that an excellent public education is mandatory in preparation for adult life. She learned that the idea of universal health care coverage can work for a nation without socialist political ramifications and extreme high costs to the taxpayer. She learned that cultural diversity is a part of life that makes the fabric of society richer and stronger when we are willing to allow ourselves to be touched by different ideas.
Pam had many unique opportunities in her early teen years. At fourteen years of age, she became the youngest editor of a Christian youth newsletter distributed throughout the province. At sixteen, she became the youngest province-wide president of the youth network for their conference. Pam was responsible for the overall planning of youth retreats; including housing, food planning, securing the speaker, and organizing the schedule for the weekend. While spending many of her summers at camp, she served as a counselor. She also acted as assistant to the camp nurse. Pam always enjoyed working with the senior citizens in their church.
In the fall of 1976 Pam moved back to Minnesota to attend Bethel College as a traditional full-time student. At the time, although her family remained in Edmonton, her father was the Chairman of the Board of Regents for Bethel College. Pam began to pursue a degree in theatre arts with a minor in psychology. She remained a full-time student until the end of her sophomore year in 1978.
In 1979 Pam met and married her first husband, and their daughter was born in 1983 followed by the birth of their son in 1987. She stayed at home to raise the children until they were of school age.
Continuing her own education in the evening with hopes of completing her undergraduate education, she changed her course of study to Organizational Behavior and Business Management. Although she has not yet officially graduated, her degree will soon be complete. Pam's political life has been and is a priority.
When her son began school full time, Pam began her career as a home daycare provider. She enjoyed the years of home daycare and felt that her efforts were most crucial to working families. Pam continues to take an interest in daycare and ECFE issues to this day. As a result of her own divorce, Pam also learned what it was like to be a single parent. She understands those who struggle to make sound financial choices in similar situations.
In 1996 Pam remarried and continues to make her home in the Como neighborhood of St. Paul. Her children have lived in St. Paul all their lives. Her daughter is a May graduate of the College of St. Catherine, while her son graduated from the Saint Paul public school system June 6, 2006. He is enrolled at Bethel University.
Pam's career has taken many interesting and enlightening turns thus affording her a number of varied opportunities. Pam has operated her own promotional company from her home. Through her work with numerous charities, she has met many outstanding Minnesotans committed to various charities. She has co-announced professional minor league baseball games, and guest co-hosted the "Coaches Roundtable" radio show with Dick Jonckowski on KSSM in Chaska on several occasions. Pam has worked for many major corporations in Minnesota; such as General Mills, 3M, and St. Jude Medical. She also worked in the retail clothing business for several years. Although she enjoys writing, the two books that are 'in the making' will take a back seat to her campaign for Governor.
She initially became involved in politics in 1992 during a Como Park neighborhood issue involving a possible new gas station. Threatening the quality of life for neighboring property owners, it was also an environmental concern. Pam continues to grow politically, and in recent years has become more interested in community activism and grassroots organizing.
She was actively involved in trying to shut down the ethanol plant in the West Seventh Street neighborhood of Saint Paul and will continue to fight for citizen rights when it comes to health, safety and fiscal issues.
She has continued to work in her neighborhood on crime prevention issues; currently organizing her neighborhood for Crime Watch.
She supported the campaign of Governor Jesse Ventura; joining the Independence Party and running for State Chair in 1998. Pam has always considered herself an Independent and has never belonged to the two party system. When she became involved with Jesse Ventura's campaign in 1998, she affiliated with the Reform Party (now Independence Party). She was a Legislative District Chair in District 66A in 1999. After the Governor was elected, Pam, as Executive Assistant to Lieutenant Governor Mae Schunk, assisted in establishing Ms. Schunk's office and traveled with her extensively during the first legislative session. She left the Lieutenant Governor's office in June 1999 to take a long-needed vacation.
In August 1999 Pam joined the Minnesotans for a Single House Legislature team as Director of Volunteer Education Services. MSHL was founded by businessman Stan Donnelly and former Senators George Pillsbury and Gene Merriam.
In 2000 Congressman Bruce Vento left an open seat when he retired for health reasons. Pam campaigned for office to represent the citizens of the 4th Congressional District. Ms. Ellison was challenged to a primary contest on the Independence Party ticket when Governor Ventura persuaded former Ramsey County Attorney, Democrat Tom Foley to run as an Independence Party member on the ticket. Although Ms. Ellison did not win the primary contest, she did receive an impressive 36.6 percent of the Independent vote in the 4th district. This is an excellent percentage when you consider she was largely unknown in the political world prior to this campaign.
She now works as an Educational Assistant in the school library at Arlington High School and remains active in the political process; particularly on K-12 education issues, women's issues, and environmental concerns. She has worked at Arlington High School for the past five years and has enjoyed her voluntary commitments as well.
She currently serves on two community based volunteer committees. She is currently the Chair of the Arlington High School Site Council; serving on the site council as a member for six years total. She was named to the Citizen Budget and Finance Advisory Committee for Saint Paul Public Schools in 2004 and has continued to serve through June 2006. She also served from 2004-2005 as the Chair of the Supervisory Committee for a local Credit Union, and as a Supervisory Committee member from 2002-2004.
She enjoys fishing, reading, writing, needlecraft, and working with young adults. She loves older buildings and is interested in antiques and history. She continues to make her home in Saint Paul, with hopes to relocate to the Governor's Residence in January 2007.
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