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Sexton begins term as freshman state rep

Tom Sexton, Minnesota House
By
Alex Malm, Staff Writer

A few weeks ago, Tom Sexton showed up to the Centennial Office Building, the temporary offices for newly elected officials while the current State Office Building is being renovated.

He found his cubicle and realized his computer hadn’t been set up yet.

After winning the House 19B race, Sexton replaces longtime state Rep. John Petersburg, who decided to retire at the end of last term. Sexton is a rookie, and because he hadn’t been sworn in yet, didn’t have access to a state email.

But Sexton, who after retiring from the military traveled for work as a construction manager, knew how to work remotely, so he went to his apartment north of the capitol and created a makeshift office.

“We’re a mobile workforce nowadays, I’m used to it,” Sexton said.

On Jan. 14, with his wife by his side, Sexton raised his right hand, swore to uphold the Constitution–something he did in the military–and officially became a state representative.

Despite the drama happening in St. Paul, Sexton said he is ready to get to work.

Radio taught him politics

While working on the road after a career in the Air Force, Sexton listened to a lot of NPR, particularly while driving through Illinois.

At the time, Sexton said, the governor was a Republican, and the legislature was controlled by Democrats.

Sexton said he hopes the 134 members of the divided Minnesota House will be able to get along better.

“They couldn’t pass a budget to save their lives. I hope we do not lower ourselves to that level here in Minnesota because I want to work with everybody,” Sexton said.

During his time traveling, Sexton said he learned a lot and will be taking some of those lessons with him while legislating.

“I’m supporting a lot of different things,” he said.

Committees

One of the committees Sexton will be serving on is Energy Finance and Policy. Along with working in energy after the service, he has had an interest since the Carter administration days. He said while he was in high school, there were concerns that the country was going to run out of oil.

“I expressed that when they asked us what committees we want to be on,” Sexton said of wanting to be on the committee.

With places like Owatonna and others in the district looking for infrastructure funding, Sexton said he will also be serving on the Capital Investment (bonding) committee.

While he didn’t initially request it, Sexton said he was brought on to the State Government Finance and Policy by Republican Whip Jim Nash, a Carver County lawmaker, following a September meeting between the two men.

“He said, ‘Hey Tom, I like your background, maturity and everything you're talking about,’”

Sexton said, noting that Nash liked his attention to detail.

“I’m looking forward to all three committees,” Sexton said.

Despite the hiccups of not having a computer, and the expected turbulence taking place in St. Paul, Sexton said adapting will be key.

“You adapt, you overcome, and you do what's right, and that's a big theme in my personal life, and certainly what I’m going to share on the floor and everywhere else,” Sexton said.

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