Pelowski maps 18th bid for State House

WINONA, Minn. – Veteran Winona state legislator Gene Pelowski said his work is not yet done and that he will seek re-election. “There is much to do coming out of the pandemic,” he told the Winona Post. “Minnesota’s economy has changed. The need for skilled workers has increased. Remote commerce, working from home, telemedicine and distance learning have created demands that will have to be addressed in this and future legislative sessions.” Pelowski, a Democrat, who is 70, was first elected in 1986. Before then he chaired the city Human Rights Commission. In the Legislature he has been a voice for higher education and championed funding for Winona State University. He teaches political science part time at the university. During most of his years in the Legislature, Pelowski taught at Winona High School and coached debate. He worked summers as a golf pro at the Walnut Grove Country Club in Cochrane, Wisconsin. For many years beginning in 1975, he organized a model legislature for youth for a facsimile parliamentary experience – a kind of let’s pretend state legislature. A priority he has identified in the 2022 Legislature is tuition-free police training for both aspiring and veteran officers: “Ensuring that law enforcement has the tools, training and officers it needs to maintain public safety is a major issue.” Pelowski holds a degree in social studies and a master’s in education, both from Winona State. In the House he was assistant minority leader in 203 and 2o004 and speaker pro-tem in 2019 and 2020.