Amanda L. Rohde

Rep.

Tuesday, January 29, 2002

Rep. Rob Leighton, DFL-Austin, has announced he will not seek a fifth term in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Len Miller, a Mower County commissioner for the Fourth District, said Leighton, who has served in the State House of Representatives since 1994, has decided not to run because &uot;his kids are 5 years old now and he wants to spend more time with them, and I think he wants to devote more time to practicing law.&uot;

Miller said he campaigned with Leighton and &uot;worked with him quite frequently. We have worked on a lot of health care issues … he has been good at supporting issues on health care for seniors and kids.

&uot;He’s done an excellent job of representing our county up there. He’s been very supportive; supportive of education, supportive of health care issues … and he supports legislature of the working people,&uot; Miller said.

&uot;He makes sure greater Minnesota is represented. He’s been an excellent legislator and has been a real advocate for our community,&uot; he added.

Donna Olson, the First Congressional delegate to the state’s DFL party caucus, has &uot;helped him with every campaign he ran,&uot; and said she is &uot;disappointed … he was a good legislator, a good representative.&uot;

&uot;We’ll be losing his knowledge, his seniority … if I was going to rate him as a legislator on a scale of one to 10, I’d give him an 11, but then, I’m a Democrat,&uot; she said with a laugh.

&uot;He’s represented us in a way that focuses on the working class people and makes sure our rights are upheld,&uot; she said. &uot;He’s done a good job up there. It will be interesting to see who runs for his seat.&uot;

Leighton was unavailable for comment Monday morning.

The 2002 legislative session begins Tuesday and Leighton’s seat will be up for election in November.