Charles A. Slocum was born February 27, 1947 in Madelia, a small town in south-central Minnesota.
Slocum's political involvement dates back to his student days at Madelia High School, where he was student body president and class president, and Hamline University (B.A., Political Science and Speech Communications, 1969), where he served as class president, Republican Club chairman, and as a member of the Student Congress Executive Committee. His subsequent Republican party activities included stints as executive director of the Minnesota Young Republican League, member of the field staff of Congressman Clark MacGregor, researcher for the State Senate Majority Caucus (1971), and Communications Director for the party from 1971-1973. He was elected delegate to the precinct, county, second district, and state conventions from Watonwan County in 1970-1972 and held similar positions in Scott County from 1974 to 1975. He was a member of the State Executive Committee and served as a chairman's appointee on the State Central Committee from 1973 to 1975. Slocum was elected chairman of the Minnesota Republican Central Committee in June of 1975, at age 28, the youngest political party chairman in the country and the youngest ever elected in Minnesota's history. Slocum resigned as party chair in 1977, citing exhaustion and family responsibilities, but continued to be involved as a researcher and consultant for the Republican Party.
In addition to his political work, Slocum has held managerial and planning positions for various Minnesota companies and non-profit organizations, including Dayton Hudson (1973-1975), Honeywell (1978-1984), the Minnesota Business Partnership (1984-1990), Metro Cable Network/Channel 6 (1992-1996), and the Arthritis Foundation Minnesota Chapter (1996-). Most recently he served as general manager of Minnesotans for a Single House Legislature.
From the guide to the Charles Slocum papers., 1961-1992., (Minnesota Historical Society)
