Dear Friends and Neighbors,
My name is Paul Novotny and I was recently elected to serve you and your family in St. Paul as your state representative. I have the distinct honor of replacing former Rep. Nick Zerwas who resigned from the legislature on December 6th. Rep. Zerwas is a friend of mine and did an outstanding job representing our community in St. Paul and I wish him nothing but the best in his retirement.
A little bit about myself, I am a 30-year veteran of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Department and live in Elk River with my wife Nicole. We have raised two daughters who both graduated from Elk River High School, the youngest in 2019. I have been involved in coaching youth sports, teaching firearms safety, and leading a confirmation group at church. I also have a life-long love of flying and am an active private pilot.
It is an honor to represent our community in St. Paul and I look forward to working hard to make sure that state government is accountable and responsive to the needs of Minnesotans.
2020 Session Priorities
Heading into the 2020 session, state government is fully funded, our budget reserve is at an all-time high, Minnesota has a budget surplus of $1.3 billion, and the state’s overall economic outlook is strong.
Such a large budget surplus means that the state is taking in more tax revenue than it needs. To that end, I plan on pursuing tax relief legislation this year that will return the surplus back to hardworking taxpayers.
In addition to tax relief, I am looking forward to supporting measures to improve accountability and oversight at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).
This summer and fall, there was endless news of chaos, misspending, and mismanagement at DHS. Given these issues, it’s clear that significant reforms are needed at the Department and we need to hold Governor Walz and others accountable for the problems at DHS.
I am proud to carry legislation this year that provides a boost in funding at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for investigations into violent gangs and gangs engaged in large-scale trafficking of illegal drugs.
This bill is part of a package of proposals targeting issues that are driving crime in the Metro area and around the state, including gang and drug trafficking activity, as well as the need for additional officers and tools for law enforcement to combat crime on the Light Rail and in communities.
Minnesotans deserve to feel safe and the legislature ought to work with law enforcement to make sure they have the tools and resources they need to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.
Finally, as your state representative, I will always be an advocate for life, from the unborn to natural death and will work tirelessly to preserve your right to protect you and your loved ones by protecting the 2nd Amendment.
Staying in Touch
Please reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4237 or via email at rep.paul.novotny@house.mn.
Have a great weekend,
Paul