Arlen Erdahl

Infobox Congressman
name = Arlen Erdahl


width=200
state = Minnesota
district = 1st
date of birth = birth date and age|1931|02|27
place of birth =
party = Republican
term = 1979 – 1983
preceded = Al Quie
succeeded = Tim Penny
religion = Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
spouse = Ellen Syrdal Erdahl

Arlen Ingolf Erdahl was born in Minnesota, February 27, 1931 and attended St. Olaf College.

A Republican, he served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1963 to 1970.Minnesota Secretary of State from 1971 – 1975 and was a U.S. Representative from Minnesota, serving the first district from 1979 – 1983, in the 96th and 97th congresses.

He was Principal Deputy/Acting Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy from 1989 to 1993. Erdahl also served as Associate Director/Country Director for the Peace Corps from 1983 to 1989. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. He received his master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University and his bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College.

He currently serves on the board of the United Nations Association of Minnesota.

In 1999 he won the Twin Cities International Citizen Award, an informal joint project of the Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the Counties of Hennepin and Ramsey.

His twin brother, Lowell O. Erdahl, is a former ELCA Synod Bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod.

Arlen Erdahl's successful campaign for Minnesota's First Congressional seat in 1978 was managed by Arlen Wittrock. During his four years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Keith Hall served as his Washington Chief of Staff and Arlen Wittrock served as his Minnesota Chief of Staff.