In the span of a few years, a bachelor and would-be architect followed a very different path and instead became a law student, a husband and a state and national leader on energy issues.
Now Rep. Jeremy Kalin (DFL-North Branch) said it’s time he took his wife on a long overdue ski vacation. Then, there’s this test he’ll take in July called the bar exam. Perhaps he’ll study for that inside the mountain chalet.
Kalin’s life took a sharp turn in 2007 when he began his first term as a legislator and was wed.
“My wife and I were married 11 days after the 35W bridge went down.” The conversation went something like this: “Honey, you know that part-time job I have? Well it’s actually full-time because my training in architecture means I can actually speak the language of engineers,” Kalin said.
For the next two-and-a-half years, the couple has managed the very hectic life of a state representative and an ob-gyn physician who drives 45 miles to deliver babies 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,” Kalin said.
Through the end of his term he’ll focus on the proposed Ratepayer Protection Act that would update utility rate structures.
“Our utility rates are really set based on having to expand. We haven’t truly modernized the way that we set our utility rates. We’ve gotten much better at energy efficiency and energy conservation … and yet we’re still in this 1930s and 1940s mode.”
In 2009, Kalin was selected by the White House to chair the national, bipartisan Coalition of Legislators for Energy Action Now. Working with the Obama Administration and the U.S. Senate has been a highlight of his career.
In 2007, he helped craft the Demand Efficiency Act, an energy conservation standard. One year later, Kalin partnered with the Pentagon to pass the Military and Overseas Voting Act, resulting in a 450 percent increase in military and overseas ballots getting counted.
“To make sure our defenders of democracy have that core right to vote was an amazing privilege,” Kalin said.
As a freshman legislator, the first bill he introduced was on behalf of a constituent who returned from Iraq and was denied a deer hunting license because he didn’t have a gun safety certificate. “Here’s a guy we trusted with an M16 and other sidearms in battle, but we couldn’t trust him with a rifle out in the woods.” Kalin thought his bill to waive the gun safety requirement for veterans was non-controversial, but he faced opposition. A compromise was eventually reached.
“It taught me that no matter how common sense it sounds, things don’t get done simply around here,” he added.
He quickly learned not to take it personally. “While things around here can feel petty at times, some of it is just the result of either ourselves or the people we work with not being able to clearly articulate their passion for their subject,” Kalin said.
He also played a key role in his district, securing funding to create Ojiketa Regional Park in Chisago City, to build the new North Branch bridge over Interstate 35 and to advance the Highway 8 project in downtown Lindstrom.
Kalin began working on the framework for a 2009 energy stimulus bill even before the federal recovery act passed. It was a “moment in history where the clean energy policies were lining up with the job opportunities,” he said. “We were clearly in crisis and I wanted to do whatever I could to get people to work as soon as possible.”
His successor will have his or her work cut out for them.
“The state’s economic challenges are severe,” Kalin said. “Not only are we dealing with what’s been called the Great Recession, but we’re also dealing with the leading edge of the retirement of the baby boomers. We really have to rethink the way we’re doing things.”
Come late May, Kalin and his wife will focus on packing their bags and waxing their skis. When the honeymoon is over and he passes the bar exam, expect Kalin to continue his work on clean energy initiatives. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be in the energy area but we’ll see what comes.”
Interim Update: Disaster relief enacted
Brief special session ends with $80 million flood, storm aid package
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Never a dull moment
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RIP: Bills that didn’t make it
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Art of compromise is the heart of politics
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Reformer at heart
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Fulfilling her ‘deal’
Kelliher leaving House after a dozen years, maybe not the Capitol
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Excited for a new opportunity
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‘A decade is a long time’
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Magnus will run for state Senate
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First Hmong House member shifts focus
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Erring on the side of openness
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Demmer winds down fourth, final term
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Time for a change
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Leaving before his self-imposed limit
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Bumper pride
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Seifert concludes 14-year House career
He’s strived to serve “conscience, constitution and constituents”
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Energized to follow a different path
Bar exam, ski trip are in Kalin’s immediate future
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Ensuring good management
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Legislative powers
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Unallotment upheaval
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Hard times hit home
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Published 2/11/2010
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Opening Day: 86th Legislative Session
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Minnesota Index: Session 2010
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First Reading: No easy fixes
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At Issue: State government funding signed
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Governor's Desk
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Minnesota Index: 2009 session
Figures and statistics on the 2009 legislative session
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Published 5/29/2009
First Reading: Letting the sunshine in
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At Issue: Budget cuts for state government
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Minnesota Index: Government in Minnesota
Figures and statistics on state and local government
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First Reading: Hammering out an agreement
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Resources: From beginning to end
Tracking bills is just a mouse click away
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At Issue: Tightening the belt
Less funding, more accountability in omnibus state government finance bill
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Published 4/24/2009
First Reading: Protecting public dollars
Lawmakers push for better financial controls at state agencies
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Published 4/17/2009
At Issue: Making technology accessible
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Published 4/3/2009
First Reading: Looking to the past
Division hears New Deal‘s controversial story
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Published 2/27/2009
Feature: Getting an earful
Legislators fan out across the state to hear budget deficit problems, solutions
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New Member: From tragedy to high hopes
Hayden hopes to effect big change
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Published 2/20/2009
New Member: A passion for local issues
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Published 2/20/2009
Feature: Is there a page in the House?
They ‘do what needs to be done’
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New Member: Former teacher returns
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New Member: From NYC to Minnesota
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New Member: Keeping it local
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New Member: Facing complex problems
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New Member: Planning for the future
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New Member: 'Honesty, common sense'
‘Honesty, common sense’
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New Member: Altitude adjustment
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New Member: A young, rural voice
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New Member: A political education
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New Member: The deficit is top priority
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New Member: A global view in St. Paul
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New Member: Honored to serve
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New Member: Waiting years for his seat
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At Issue: Leading by example
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New Member: Doing greater good
Jackson views public service as a calling
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New Member: A heritage of involvement
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New Member: Passionate about business
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Published 1/23/2009
New Member: No shortcut to service
Newton relishes opportunity to make tough decisions
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Published 1/23/2009
New Member: Working to unite
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New Member: Walking the talk
Persell models stewardship of the environment
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New Member: Making a difference
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New Member: Taking the chance
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Published 1/23/2009
At Issue: The state of our state
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Published 1/16/2009
Feature: Opening day
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At Issue: Beyond the budget
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Minnesota Index: Minnesota House 2009
Figures and statistics on the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2009.
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Published 1/9/2009