Paul UtkePaul Utke is an American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represents District 5 in northwestern Minnesota.Early life and careerUtke was born on December 3, 1956, and raised in North Dakota. He is an insurance broker and was elected to the Park Rapids City Council in 2008. He has chaired the Hubbard County Republicans and has served on boards of several local organizations. He owned a hardware store in Park Rapids for 16 years.Minnesota SenateUtke was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2016.Personal lifeUtke and his wife, Nancy, have two children and reside in Park Rapids.