Although state representative Carly Melin's retirement press release was clear about leaving "public life" at the end of her term in the legislature, that hasn't stopped speculation about what office she might seek next.
Melin stated in the final paragraph:
Although I'll exit public life when my term expires, I will always have a passion for serving the public and plan to continue doing so through other community involvement. For now, I look forward to focusing on my legal career on the Iron Range and spending more time with my family.”
Duluth News Tribune staff writer John Myers reports in Carly Melin won't seek re-election to Legislature:
State Rep. Carly Melin of Hibbing, who became the first Iron Range woman elected to the Legislature in two decades, announced Thursday that she won’t seek re-election this year.
Melin, 30, said she wants to spend more time developing her legal career and her young family — with one toddler, Leonard, in diapers and another child on the way.
. . .“It’s a long distance to try to handle a family in Hibbing and a job in St. Paul. It’s a problem for a lot of us in Greater Minnesota,’’ Melin told the News Tribune Thursday. “And I want to develop my career outside the Legislature.’’
Melin, who represents District 6B, is an attorney for the Prebich law firm in Hibbing.
“This is going to be my sixth session coming up, which is actually about average for the House,’’ Melin noted, but hinted she may not be done with public service.
“I’m stepping out for now. But I’m still pretty young and I’m not ruling out coming back into public office some day,” she said. “It has been a privilege to serve in the Legislature and a true honor to represent the citizens of my district at the Capitol.’’
A young progressive friend from Northeastern suggested that a seat on the St. Louis County Board might be just the thing for Melin to find work closer to home, citing another Myers article from earlier this year, Raukar to lead St. Louis County Board during last year in office. Steve Raukar represents the 7th District, which includes Melin's home town of Hibbing.
If she's going to run, however, she'd have to run this year--or wait four years, since the county commissioner gigs last four years. We suspect the popular Ranger would have no problem getting elected to the seat.
Should this career path be in her future, she'd be joining a number of former state legislators on county boards. In 2014, Patrick Condon reported in the Star Tribune article, Minnesota legislators swap Capitol careers for lucrative county paychecks:
It’s the Minnesota Legislature’s version of brain drain. A number of high-profile and influential legislators are trading the lofty policy debates, high-stakes budgeting, demanding schedule and chaotic politics of the Legislature for the comparatively staid and decidedly unglamorous world of county government.
In addition to Holberg, Rep. Mike Beard, R-Shakopee, will run for a commissioner’s seat in Scott County. Five former legislators also are running for county board posts — four DFLers and one Republican in both the metro area and greater Minnesota. Former legislators fill seats on a number of other county boards including in Ramsey, Carver and Olmsted counties. . . .
The county jobs might look less powerful and prestigious, more low profile. But a handful of boards governing the state’s largest counties dangle paychecks that dwarf those of the average legislator.
Rank-and-file Minnesota legislators earn $31,141 a year, plus an expense per diem, for a job that’s officially considered part time. But for up to half the year, the legislative calendar demands long hours, late nights, weekend meetings and frequent round trips between St. Paul and home. Political tensions can run high, media scrutiny can be intense and the fundraising for the next election endless.
Meanwhile, commissioners in 15 of Minnesota’s 87 counties earn more than their legislative counterparts — a few up to double and in Hennepin County near triple. With the higher pay comes regularly scheduled meetings, smaller budgets, more clear-cut issues and less partisan rhetoric. . . .
Tom Rukavina, a fiery Iron Range DFLer, stepped down in 2012 after a quarter-century in the House. He is now running for the St. Louis County Board. If elected, he’ll nearly double his former legislative salary and will keep his legislative pension.
Rukavina joked that “I got tired of driving back and forth to the Cities.” . . .
For a family with two small children, those drives to the Cities and long nights are no joke, while service on the St. Louis County board is considered a full-time job, with an annual salary of $58,399 in 2015. The board meets three times each month at locations across the county.
Commissioners can hold jobs in addition to that of commissioner, and so Melin would be able to practice law as well.
We'll see if our young friend's hunch plays out. While we were critical of the restrictive medical cannabis law she authored, as well as her anti-environmental record, her work for workplace equity for women and other measures leave a sound legacy in St. Paul.
Photo:Rep. Melin campaigning in Nashwauk parade with Governor Mark Dayton and Congressman Rick Nolan in 2014, only weeks after giving birth to her son Leonard. She's be perfectly capable of winning a county board seat while caring for her newborn. Via Facebook.
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