# Yvonne Prettner Solon *American politician; 47th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (2011–2015)* Yvonne Prettner Solon (born February 3, 1946) is a Minnesota politician of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. She held the office of [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota]] from 2011 to 2015, the 47th person to do so.[^1] Her time in the post matched the first term of Governor [[Mark Dayton]], and she retired when that term ended.[^1] She was the sixth woman in succession to hold the office.[^1] Before statewide office, she represented District 7 in the [[Minnesota Senate]]. She first won the seat in a January 2002 special election and won further terms in 2002 and 2006.[^2] Dayton named her his running mate in May 2010. The ticket won the DFL nomination over [[Margaret Anderson Kelliher]], then won a general election that went to a recount against the Republican ticket of [[Tom Emmer]] and [[Annette Meeks]].[^3] ## Education She attended Stanbrook Hall Preparatory School for her secondary schooling. The school is a Roman Catholic girls' school in [[Duluth, Minnesota]].[^4] She holds two degrees from the [[University of Minnesota Duluth]], a B.S.D. and an M.A.[^4] ## State Senate Her seat was Senate District 7, which takes in parts of St. Louis County in northeastern Minnesota.[^2] Her husband, Senator [[Sam Solon]], died on December 28, 2001. She first won the seat in a special election held after his death in January 2002.[^2] Voters returned her in the regular elections of 2002 and 2006.[^2] The cited article lists her legislative concerns as economic development, education, health care, the environment, transportation and jobs.[^2] ### Committees She chaired the Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications Committee.[^2] Her other assignments were these:[^2] - the Capital Investment Committee - the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee - the Health, Housing and Family Security Committee - the Finance Subcommittee for the Health and Human Services Budget Division ## Lieutenant governor On May 24, 2010, Mark Dayton named Prettner Solon as his running mate for that year's election. Dayton was a former U.S. senator then seeking the governorship.[^3] In announcing the choice, Dayton said "her thoughtful, sensitive and visionary leadership and public service are further informed by her life experiences".[^3] According to the cited article, observers regarded the pick as giving the campaign regional and gender balance.[^3] The ticket won the DFL primary of August 10, 2010, by a narrow margin over Margaret Anderson Kelliher.[^3] The general election was close and went to a recount. It ended with Dayton and Prettner Solon ahead of the Republican nominees, Tom Emmer and Annette Meeks.[^3] She received the Joan and Walter Mondale Award for Public Service at the 2014 Humphrey-Mondale Awards.[^3] She left office in 2015 at the close of Dayton's first term and retired.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Yvonne Prettner Solon* (revision 1378382055, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead: birth date; 47th lieutenant governor of Minnesota, 2011–2015; sixth consecutive woman in the office; DFL member; served during Governor Mark Dayton's first term, then retired. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvonne_Prettner_Solon [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Yvonne Prettner Solon*, "State Senate" section (revision 1378382055, retrieved 2026-10-25) — District 7 senator; January 2002 special election after Sam Solon's death on December 28, 2001; reelected 2002 and 2006; legislative concerns; committee assignments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvonne_Prettner_Solon [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Yvonne Prettner Solon*, "Lieutenant governor" section (revision 1378382055, retrieved 2026-10-25) — May 24, 2010 running-mate announcement and Dayton quotation; August 10, 2010 DFL primary; recounted general election against Tom Emmer and Annette Meeks; 2014 Joan and Walter Mondale Award for Public Service. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvonne_Prettner_Solon [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Yvonne Prettner Solon*, "Education" section (revision 1378382055, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Stanbrook Hall Preparatory School, Duluth; B.S.D. and M.A. from the University of Minnesota Duluth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvonne_Prettner_Solon