title: Mary Sawatzky
text: # Mary Sawatzky
  
  Mary Sawatzky (born February 7, 1961) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represented District 17B in west-central Minnesota. She is currently teaching as a teacher of the deaf (hard-of-hearing) at Willmar Senior High School in Minnesota.
  
  ## Education
  
  Sawatzky attended St. Cloud State University, graduating in 1984 with a B.S. in special education and elementary education. She was a special education teacher at New London–Spicer Senior High School from 1985 to 1986. When she left her job later that year, she started working in Willmar Public Schools as a learning disability teacher until 2018.
  
  ## Minnesota House of Representatives
  
  Sawatzky was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2012.
  
  Sawatzky was one of two Democrats in the Minnesota House to vote against a same-sex marriage bill on May 9, 2013. The bill passed 75-59.
  
  ## Personal life
  
  Sawatzky is married to her husband, Douglas. They have two children and reside in Willmar, Minnesota. She teaches at Willmar Middle School.
  
  