Ted Butler grew up as one of three kids in a middle class family that placed a premium on education. Ted and his older brother and sister all attended public schools and went on to public universities.  Ted’s Dad was a political science major in college and the dinner table conversations about politics sparked his interest in politics and public policy at a young age. 

Education and Professional Background

After high school, Ted went off to college, including stints at UW-Eau Claire and in Germany, before completing a double major in, of all the possible combinations, Accounting and German at the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1999.  After graduating from UMD (and not being so sure about the demand for German-speaking accountants), Ted became an internal auditor for the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities and spent over three years working to ensure good stewardship of public funding at the U. 

In 2002, Ted moved into a new role at the U managing the finances of the University’s newly self-insured employee health plans.  Ted has had the opportunity to work with leading health care experts at the U in this capacity and has played a significant part in the U’s great success in controlling health care costs.

While working at the U, Ted has completed a Master’s degree in Human Resources and Industrial Relations and a Certificate in Policy Issues on Work and Pay through programs housed in the Carlson School of Management and Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.  He has recently returned to insurance and employee benefits classes in the Carlson School as a guest speaker.

Family and Community

Ted and his wife Andrea have lived in Andover since 2000 and have a 2-year old son Kellen.  Andrea is a high school math teacher and track coach.  Ted, Andrea, and Kellen spend a lot of their free time in the outstanding city and county parks in our area.  Ted is an avid Gopher hockey fan and a devoted Gopher football fan (and still is despite all of the heartbreaks of recent years).  Ted also likes to run and golf, although he says he never seems to get much better at either one.

Ted and Andrea are active members of St. Stephen’s Church.  Ted serves on both the Andover Parks Commission and the Andover Community Center Advisory Commission.  Ted has also served as an election judge for the City of Andover in both the 2004 and 2006 elections.