Dear Friends,
This week the Governor gave his annual State of the State speech, where he summarized the work done by the legislature so far this session, and offered a preview of his vision for the final weeks of session, and more generally the future of Minnesota. This year's State of the State was the latest in more than 100 years due to the Governor recovering from hip surgery he had back in February.
While I disagree with the Governor on a great deal of issues, I appreciated his calls for unity and bipartisan cooperation. It's important to find common ground amidst the larger disagreements on the major issues at the Capitol so we can continue doing good work for constituents in St. Paul, and making progress on the smaller, less controversial issues that have positive impacts on people's lives.
Here is a photo of my wife Susan and I at the Speaker's dais following the Governor's speech.
Tragedy Avoided in Waseca
I wanted to express my great appreciation to the community and members of the Waseca Police Department for their outstanding work in preventing what could have been an unspeakable tragedy in Waseca. As you've probably heard, police arrested and have filed charges against a teenager accused of plotting a violent attack on Waseca High School.
This is a shocking story that has shaken our community, but an important reminder nonetheless on the need to watch for suspicious behavior. If not for a call to local police, this story might have had a far more tragic ending. As the saying goes, if you see something, say something. Whether it be suspicious behavior, or other warning signs from someone you know in school or at work, vigilance can sometimes put a stop to these horrible acts before they happen. I want to commend the Waseca Police Department for their excellent work that saved the lives of potentially dozens of Waseca residents.
Regards,
John Petersburg
State Representative, District 24A