Rep. Steve
Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud) decided to leave Minnesota House of Representatives
after serving 4 terms and second member to resign after Rep. Terry Morrow
(DFL-St. Peter). He have taken job with Center for Diagnostic Imaging, a healthcare
company in continuing its leadership in providing high quality, cost-effective
diagnostic imaging services as a Lobbyist. He cannot stay as State
Representative and being a Lobbyist due to conflict of interest and it was very
tough decision for him.
Here is his
resignation letter to fellow House Members:
Dear
Colleagues:
At the beginning
of December, I announced the great news that I had joined Center for Diagnostic
Imaging as Director of State Legislative Policy, in a national role assisting
this healthcare company in continuing its leadership in providing high quality,
cost-effective diagnostic imaging services.
My role at the CDI Quality Institute is to understand and translate the
complex state healthcare regulatory environment in more than 25 states in which
the company sees patients, and I am proud to be working with a healthcare
company actively seeking solutions at a critical time for health care across
the country.
As I’ve
settled in at CDI, I see the states are once again the laboratory of democracy,
and each is finding its own approach to implementing the new federal healthcare
law. It’s a huge set of changes, and it
makes this position one to which I must fully commit as much time and focus as
possible. It quite simply is more than a
full time job, and one that will not allow me the time I need to represent the
people of District 14A as their State Representative.
That is why
I have made the difficult decision to resign my seat in the Minnesota House of
Representatives before the end of the month. I thank you, my colleagues, for
our years of service together, and my constituents for their confidence in
electing me to represent them. I will always appreciate the deep honor and
privilege of serving the residents of St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Augusta and
Rockville.
Sincerely in
service,
Rep. Steve
Gottwalt
House
District 14A
Gov. Mark
Dayton has not called on special election. Stay tuned for updates on special
election.
For the record, I am not a lobbyist. As my letter indicates, I am resigning to dedicate my full attention to a great new job. This has nothing to with the snarky, partisan and false insinuations of conflict amplified by the drive-by media. It's been a deep honor and privilege to serve my community and the State of Minnesota, and I'm very proud of what we accomplished in my time as legislator. Thanks!
ReplyDelete-Rep. Steve Gottwalt
Thanks for clarification on your new role. I am sure people will miss you at the Capitol.
ReplyDelete