Jerry Relph

Jerry O. Relph (September 4, 1944 – December 18, 2020) was an American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A Republican, he represented District 14 in central Minnesota from 2017 until his death from Covid complications in 2020.[2] Prior to his death, he attended a superspreader event, along with several other Minnesota Republicans, where attendees did not comply with public health recommendations, such as wearing protective face masks.[3]

Jerry Relph
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 14th district
In office
January 3, 2017 – December 18, 2020
Preceded byJohn Pederson
Succeeded byAric Putnam
Personal details
Born(1944-09-04)September 4, 1944[1]
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedDecember 18, 2020(2020-12-18) (aged 76)
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Political partyRepublican Party of Minnesota
Spouse(s)
Colette
​
​
(m. 1972; died 1999)​

Pegi Broker
​
(m. 2002)​
Children2
Alma materCarleton College
William Mitchell College of Law

Early life, education, and career

Relph was born in Boston, Massachusetts,[1][4] and attended high school in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[5] He attended Carleton College, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and William Mitchell College of Law, graduating in 1974 with a Juris Doctor.[4][6]

After graduating from Carleton, Relph enlisted in the Marine Corps, spending 14 months in South Vietnam. After that, he worked for 3M in personnel while attending law school. He later joined a small law firm in St. Charles, Minnesota, specializing in municipal, real estate, business, and tax law. In 1984, Relph moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota and joined the Hughes law firm, specializing in municipal and zoning law. He later joined LakeMaster.[5]

Minnesota Senate

In his first run for public office, Relph was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2016, defeating Democratic–Farmer–Labor candidate Dan Wolgamott by 141 votes.[7] He ran for reelection in 2020, losing to Democratic–Farmer–Labor candidate Aric Putnam.[8] Putnam declared victory a week following the election, with a lead of 315 votes. Relph requested and paid for a recount, which resulted in a gain of two votes for Putnam and three for Relph. Relph never formally conceded the election.[9]

Political positions

Relph opposed a paid family/sick leave proposal, calling it a "statewide social security system".[10][11] He opposed universal preschool, calling it a "step to creating cradle to grave control by the government."[12]

In early 2020, Relph expressed concern over COVID-19, arguing the state was inadequately prepared to combat it. He authored legislation, which was signed into law, to provide nearly $2.1 million in aid to fight the pandemic.[2]

Personal life

Relph was married to Colette Relph from 1972 until her death in 1999. They had two children. In 2002, he married Pegi Broker, with whom he had four stepchildren. He lived in St. Cloud.[4]

Death

Relph was one of several Minnesota Republicans who tested positive for COVID-19 after attending an in-person post-election party on November 5, 2020.[13][14] At the party, there was little compliance with public health recommendations, such as wearing face masks.[15] He was hospitalized in mid-November.[3] After weeks of hospitalization, Relph died on December 18 of complications from the disease.[2][16] His daughter, angry at the get-together that preceded his illness, asked, "Why are you throwing a party with 100-plus people in the middle of a pandemic?"[3]

References
  1. Lopez, Ricardo (December 18, 2020). "GOP State Sen. Jerry Relph, author of COVID-19 response bill, dies from coronavirus". Minnesota Reformer. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  2. Bakst, Brian; Marohn, Kirsti (December 18, 2020). "Minn. Sen. Jerry Relph dies of COVID-19 complications". Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020.
  3. Gabriel, Trip (January 18, 2021). "In Minnesota, a G.O.P. Lawmaker's Death Brings Home the Reality of Covid" – via NYTimes.com.
  4. "Relph, Jerry". Legislators Past & Present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  5. Marohn, Kirsti (September 16, 2016). "Relph: Life experience gives him edge". St. Cloud Times. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  6. "Jerry O. Relph '74". MITCHELL HAMLINE SCHOOL OF LAW. Hamline University. February 1, 2016.
  7. Johnson, Allie (December 7, 2016). "District 14 recount confirms Relph as winner, GOP to have Senate majority". KMSP-TV. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  8. Hertel, Nora G. (November 17, 2020). "What's next in St. Cloud's close Senate race? A COVID-19 town hall and a potential recount". St. Cloud Times. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020.
  9. Hertel, Nora G. (December 1, 2020). "DFLer Aric Putnam wins St. Cloud Senate seat as recount fails to bridge gap for Jerry Relph". St. Cloud Times. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020.
  10. Hertel, Nora G. (June 14, 2019). "On climate, energy, health care, taxes: Lawmakers round out session in St. Cloud". St. Cloud Times. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  11. SF 12/HF 14, Wiklund amendment, Senate Journal, p. 4/30/19
  12. "Jerry Relph biography". Jerry Relph for State Senate. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  13. Sanchez, Rosa (December 19, 2020). "State senator dies from COVID-19 complications". ABC News. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  14. Wiese, Charlie (November 16, 2020). "Minnesota State Sen. Jerry Relph tests positive for COVID-19 as outbreak in Republican caucus expands". Saint Paul, Minnesota: KSTP-TV. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020.
  15. Gabriel, Trip (January 18, 2021). "In Minnesota, a G.O.P. Lawmaker's Death Brings Home the Reality of Covid". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  16. Bierschbach, Briana (December 18, 2020). "Minnesota state Sen. Jerry Relph is first Minnesota lawmaker to die of COVID-19". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020.
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