WINONA, Minn. – Every election year about New Year’s Day, Gene Pelowski has had a decision-making ritual: “Should I run for another term?” This year, with a 20th campaign facing him, Pelowski decided it was time to pack it up. At age 71, he announced he won’t seek reelection. He wants to spend more time with family. His decision left Winona County Democrats with a vacancy they haven’t had much to worry about since 1986 when Pelowski, a popular high school civics teacher and local golf pro, first went to St. Paul. Explaiiing his decision Pelowski said the intensity of his New Year’s deliberations began taking on new intensity in 2020 when the CoVid pandemic erupted. “My wife and I have been talking about this since CoVid when we had two years of CoVid and we really couldn’t do anything with the grandchildren,” Pelowski said. “We have a granddaughter who is in first grade. She’s 7, Abigail. And we have a grandson, Nicholas. He’s 16 now and he’s in 10th grade. The decision was that after 38 years, it’s time to focus on other things and the direction is going to be is going to be mainly toward those grandchildren.” When the 2024 Legislature convened Thursday in St. Paul , itwas the beginning of Pelowski’s finale term.
Earlier: House speaker on Pelowski: “A remarkable legacy”
Earlier: Winona DFL chair: Pelowski decision unexpected
Earlier: Pelowski on why not running: Seems to be: “It’s time”
Forever a teacher. Early in his political career, Pelowski organized what was called the “Model Legislature.” High school students would gather after weeks of preparation for a weekend of practicing the art of law-making. The mock exercises continued even during the CoVid crisis. Here, all masked and lanking Pelowski, are student leaders of the 2022 session. This was after Pelowski retired from a career teaching civics at Winona High School and also teaching political science part-time at Winona State University.
Yard signs. Some Pelowski supporters saved his distinctive green campaign yard signs from one election to the next, Now tyey can retire them. His first campaign was 1986.