Betsy Wergin is a former business owner. She
purchased her first business, a local dry cleaner, at age 20. She
later owned and operated a retail store and mail order business selling
knitting machines along with yarn and other related goods. She
also worked as an assistant to the director of the Elim Nursing Homes,
Inc., a chain of private nonprofit homes.
Wergin's family has a history of political involvement. Her father
was a Mille Lacs County Commissioner
in the 1970's. Her
brother LeRoy
Koppendrayer, was a
Republican House
member in the 1990's,
serving the Princeton
area. Wergin was a
township officer for six
years, and a Sherburne
County Commissioner
for eight years.
In her first term, she
worked to get a "pay
for performance"
incentive for teachers
passed into law, along
with funding for the
Betsy and husband, Richard, with daughter, Melissa, son-in-law,
Howard (seated) and son, Joshua.
Xcel Energy trail,
which will run along the
Mississippi River.
In her second term, Wergin has focused on simplifying the K-12 funding
formula, finding ways for the private market to provide health insurance
for all children, and creating a tax climate that is friendly to
business as well as keeping taxes low on Minnesota families. She
has also supported easing state taxes on veterans.
Wergin's district includes the trust lands of the Mille Lacs Band of
Ojibwe and Grand Casino Mille Lacs. She wants to raise awareness
among legislators about how political decisions affect counties with
American Indian trust lands and casinos.
Wergin became a first-time grandmother in 2007, and her son recently
entered service in the National Guard. Her hobbies include
reading, gardening, church activities, and bicycling.
