Dear Neighbor,
I’m proud to officially be a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives after taking the oath of office Tuesday at the Capitol. The 2019 session is now underway and the swearing-in ceremony was a great experience that I felt honored to participate in.
For some quick background, I am from Becker Township and I was elected in November to fill the District 15B seat vacated by former Rep. Jim Newberger. The district includes portions of Benton, Morrison, Sherburne and Wright counties. I am a residential building general contractor and have been involved in politics at the local level the last several years.
I spent the last number of months talking about the issues with people back in our district and now it’s time to get down to business and bring my perspectives to the Legislature. I am grateful the citizens of District 15B have entrusted me as their voice in St. Paul and I look forward to working hard for the people I represent.
Much of this week was spent taking care of the necessary housekeeping and procedural things before the real work begins. I have been selected to serve on three House committees: Labor, Jobs and Economic Development Finance, and Energy and Climate Finance and Policy. Those will begin formally meeting next week.
It is important to remain connected with the people of District 15B as I take this job and I welcome feedback as we prepare to make important decisions in the House. The best way to reach me during the session is by calling (651) 296-2451 or by emailing rep.shane.mekeland@house.mn.
District 15B residents also are welcome to set up an appointment to discuss issues at my legislative office. Please reach out to my assistant, Austin Parrish, at austin.parrish@house.mn or by calling (651) 297-8407 if you would like to book a meeting in St. Paul.
Look for other emails from me to follow as the issues start to shake out in St. Paul. The bottom line is that I look forward to fighting for our values. My approach will be to stand firm on the Constitution, principles and simple common sense.
Until later, have a good weekend,
Shane