Jerry Newton (politician)

Gerald F. "Jerry" Newton (born September 15, 1937) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota State Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 37, which includes portions of Anoka County in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. He is also a former grocery store owner, college professor, and career soldier.[1]

Jerry Newton
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 37th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byAlice Johnson
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 37A district
In office
January 8, 2013 – January 2, 2017
Preceded byredrawn district
Succeeded byErin Koegel
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 49B district
In office
January 6, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byKathy Tingelstad
Succeeded byBranden Petersen
Personal details
Born (1937-09-15) September 15, 1937
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Political partyMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
Spouse(s)Rita
Children6
ResidenceCoon Rapids, Minnesota
Alma materUniversity of Maryland
Boston University
University of Leuven
University of Minnesota
OccupationBusiness owner, educator, legislator, veteran

Early life, education, and career

Newton graduated from Osseo High School in Osseo, Minnesota, then earned his B.A. in government from the University of Maryland in 1973. He received his MA in international relations in 1975 from Boston University, and studied political science at the doctoral level at the Catholic University of Leuven in Leuven, Belgium, and at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Newton served on active duty in the United States Army from 1955–1978, retiring as a sergeant major, having been deployed overseas for 18 of his 23 years of service, including serving in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and seven years in the Middle East. The Bronze Star and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm are among his 23 awards of medals, battle stars, services ribbons, and decorations.[2] He taught courses in political science at the Overseas Division of the University of Maryland from 1975-1976, University of Minnesota, 1979-1980, and Anoka Ramsey Community College, 2012-2014. He owned and managed the Blaine Dairy Store, Inc and Liberty Park Grocery from 1980-2001.[1][3]

Minnesota State Senate

Newton was first elected to the Senate in 2016, succeeding the retiring Alice Johnson. He is currently a member of the following committees and commissions:[4]

  • Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy
  • Ranking Minority Chair of Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
  • Chair, Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission 
  • Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission

Minnesota House of Representatives

Newton was first elected to the house in 2008, succeeding six-term Representative Kathy Tingelstad, who did not seek re-election.[5] He was unseated by Republican Branden Petersen in the 2010 general election.[6] He ran again and was elected in 2012.

During his first term, he was a member of the House K-12 Finance Committee, House K-12 Policy Committee, the House Transportation Fiance Committee and was Vice Chair of the Veterans Affairs Division of the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Committee.[7]

He was the Minnesota School Board Association 2009 Legislator of the Year for his leadership on hearings and legislation relating to special education. In 2009 Newton was also appointed by the Speaker of the House Paul Thissen to perform an in-depth study of veterans homes. In 2010 he was appointed by the Speaker of the House to Co-Chair the Coon Rapids Dam Legislative Commission to provide a barrier for invasive species of fish from gaining access to northeastern Minnesota waterways.

Personal life

Active in his local community and government, Newton was a member of the Coon Rapids City Council from 1994–2000, and served as acting mayor from 1999-2000. He was a member of the Anoka-Hennepin School District 11 School Board from 2000-2008. Through the years, he chaired the Anoka Human Rights Council, served on the Anoka County Affordable Housing Coalition, the Coon Rapids Economic Development Authority, the Crystal Housing and Re-Development Authority, the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the National League of Cities (1995–2000), the Metropolitan Council Transportation Advisory Board (1996–2000), the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, and the Northstar Corridor Development Authority.[1][3]

Newton was a founding board member, president and emeritus director of Free2 Be, Inc. and is a former member of the Metro North Chamber of Commerce and the Coon Rapids Rotary, where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. He is a life member of the VFW and is a member of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Coon Rapids American Legion. Newton was best known locally for creating unique rail crossing quiet zones which set a national standard for enhanced rail crossing safety while silencing train horns. He initiated the local school district's first high school Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program at Blaine High School, the Baccalaureate program at Champlin Park High School and the Compass program to insure expelled students received continuing hands-on education.

References
  1. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Newton, Jerry". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  2. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WASHINGTON DC (2001-03-26). "The Use of DD Form 2766 and DD Form 2766C". Fort Belvoir, VA. doi:10.21236/ada402378. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. "Project Vote Smart - Representative Gerald F. 'Jerry' Newton - Biography". Votesmart.org. 1937-09-15. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  4. https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1229
  5. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Tingelstad, Kathy". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2010-11-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Jerry Newton (DFL) 49B - Minnesota House of Representatives". House.leg.state.mn.us. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
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