Wednesday, March 3, 2010

REP. JEREMY KALIN WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION IN 2010


MATT SWANSON, MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRSENTATIVES

State Representative Jeremy Kalin announced today that he will not seek re-election for a third term. He issued the following statement:

"Serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives is an incredible honor. I've been lucky enough to earn the trust of my neighbors all across Chisago County for two terms. I'm confident that I would have won their trust for another term, but my name won't be on the ballot in November.

“My wife and I were married during my first year in office. For 2 and a half years, we've managed the very hectic life of a State Representative from Chisago County and an ob-gyn phsyician delivering babies 45 miles away in Minneapolis. We've decided to take a break from campaigns and elected office and enjoy our lives together, while we can still call ourselves ‘newlyweds.’

"Public service is in my blood. I am sure that the call to serve our great state will be present throughout my life. For now, I am focused on the task at hand in the legislative session - Minnesota's short- and long-term economic recovery. I cannot say 'Thank You' often enough to the voters of Chisago County for the chance to be their voice in the Minnesota House. It is truly a privilege in every sense of the word."

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Among his key accomplishments so far in his two terms, Rep. Kalin chief-authored two pieces of landmark legislation. In 2007, Kalin's first session in the House, Rep. Kalin worked with Sen. Scott Dibble and the Pawlenty administration to craft the Demand Efficiency Act, the nation's strongest energy conservation standard.

In 2009, Rep. Kalin was selected by the White House to chair CLEAN, the national Coalition of Legislators for Energy Action Now working with the Obama Administration and the U.S. Senate to pass comprehensive clean energy jobs and climate legislation.

In 2008, Kalin partnered with the Pentagon and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie to pass the Military and Overseas Voting Act. Kalin's leadership resulted in a 450 percent increase in military and overseas ballots getting counted in the 2008 election.

Rep. Kalin played a key role in several Chisago County initiatives, including securing state bonding funds to acquire and create Camp Ojiketa Regional Park in Chisago City. Kalin also helped deliver needed state funds to build the new North Branch bridge, and to advance the Highway 8 project to revitalize downtown Lindstrom. Rep. Kalin secured federal Recovery Act dollars to develop the carbon-neutral bio-business park in the Chisago Lakes area.

Rep. Kalin's pending legislation in the 2010 session include state incentives for investing in innovative clean energy technologies, as well as financial tools for homeowners and small businesses to reduce their energy costs. Kalin's Ratepayer Protection Act will provide needed electricity rate reforms to protect Minnesota consumers.