WINONA, Minn. – In announcing he won’t seek a 20th term in the Legislature, Gene Pelowski side-stepped an explanation. His announcement recited a lengthy list of accomplishments, which suggested he felt it was time to pass the torch. But unanswered were many questions. At age71, is he tiring? Well? Has the local Democratic apparatchik had advance warning to identify a candidate for the November election?
Verbatim
Pelowski: “I will not be seeking re-election in 2024.
“Entering my 38th year as a legislator, I look back on a series of historic achievements. The sponsorship of the creation of Chapters 12A and 12B, which are now the play books to address natural disasters in Minnesota declared by the President of the United States and by Minnesota’s Governor. Chapters 12A and 12B were based on the 2007 natural disaster that struck Southeastern MN, which is still the largest natural disaster in Minnesota’s history for which Minnesota was woefully unprepared. A Special Session will no longer be needed when disaster strikes and the Governor can get aid to those impacted immediately.
“As Chair of the House of Representatives Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee in 1997-98, 2013-14 and 2023-24 record investments were made in Higher Education by freezing tuition and paying for it and the creation of the North Start Promise to provide Minnesota with skilled workers.
“The sponsorship of the Winona State Composite Engineering in 1988 which is still the only undergraduate Composite Engineering Program in the United States. Being the legislative host of Governor Perpich’s State of the State Address on February 9, 1988 at Winona State University focused on the establishment of WSU’s Composite Engineering Program. This was the first State of the State Address held outside the St. Paul Capitol.
“Being the legislative host of two Minnesota House of Representatives Mini-Sessions in Winona in September 1989 and October 2019 brought 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives to Winona. Each Mini-Session produced legislation to enhance job creation in SE Minnesota. The program now in place at WSU and MN State College SE to restore Vocational Technical Educators in Minnesota’s High Schools so students will once again have the opportunity to graduate with an employable skill set came out of a hearing at MN State College SE in 2019. These Mini-Sessions of the entire 134 members of the MN House of Representatives, participating in local committee hearings, supported numerous building projects for the City of Winona, Winona County, Winona State University and Minnesota State College SE.
“The sponsorship of legislation for the Disability Community to allow more services in the use of living space, technology and increase funding to ensure the stability of programs.
“As Chair of the House of Representatives Government Operations and Reform Committee, I improved the legislative process to ensure that amendments to bills being presented to the House must have the amendments to those bills posted for the public to see 24 hours in advance. This allows the public to know their content before House floor debate.
“None of this would have been possible without the support of my family, especially my wife Deb Pelowski who for 38 years coordinated everything from raising two sons, keeping family and campaign events balanced and working outside of the home full time. Bob and Sue Edel have been essential elements in the running of the political campaigns with Sue Edel being the Campaign Treasurer since 1986 and Bob Edel rotating in as needed as the Campaign Chair. Special thanks to Duane and Patte Peterson who in 1986, with Duane chairing the Campaign Committee, and Patte, hosting events at their home, established a base of operations for future campaigns.
“Thank you to the residents of Legislative District 26A for allowing me to participate in a remarkable four decades of public service.”
Pelowski. A campaign portrait from 1987 when he was first elected from what then was House District 34-B. District boundaries have been redrawn slightly over the decades and the numbers changed with the new census every 10 years. It became District 32-A in the 1990s, District 31-A in the 2000s, District 28-A in the 2010s, and now District 26-A in the 2020s.