Repinski throws hat in ring for State Legislature

WINONA, Minn. – First-term City Council member Aaron Repinski declared his candidacy for the Minnesota House district that includes most of Winona County. Repinski is the first challenger to emerge against 19-term legislator Gene Pelowski, a Democrat who is expected to seek re-election. Repinski said he’s “concerned about the consequences that come with billions in tax increases and new mandates for our schools and businesses.” Repinski, age 50, has never been active in patisan politics. When he lived in Wilson Township near Lewiston, he was listed in voting records  as “unenrolled.” In Winona the elected municipal government positions are nonpartisan by law. Locally Repinsk is known mostly for his local Mississippi River cruises between the dams at Fountain City and Trempealeau. He calls himself “Captain Aaron and dresses in Navy whites with epaulets  and a matching billed cap with gold braid.  Sunglasses too. For 17 years he also has operated Rip-Roaring Entertainment, which books local acts including his own shows as a magician. Repinski claims to be  a life-long Winona resident but has lived also in rural Lewiston and Fountain City in Wisconsin, He is a Winona State University alum.

House District 26-A. Includes the Winona County cities and townships in white. The district runs up the Mississippi almost to Minneiska and down to northern neighborhoods of LaCrescent and as far west as Rollingstone and Utica.

Repinski. Elected to an at large seat on the City Council in 2020. He defeated Paul Schollmeier 55% to 43%. It was Repinski’s first bid for public office.