As I've debated bills on the House floor in my 22 years as a state legislator, I've had plenty of people to the right of me -- both figuratively and literally -- but I've only had one person to my left. That would be Rep. Mike Jaros.
You see, Jaros has sat next to me on my left for the entire 22 years I've served in the Legislature. It has been a privilege to get to know him and what he stands for. Jaros is retiring after more than 30 years of service to the people of Duluth and Minnesota in the state House of Representatives. His compassion, intelligence and commitment to public service will be missed. I want to thank the people of Duluth for sending Rep. Jaros to the Legislature. I especially want to thank Jaros for all he has taught me as a friend and colleague.
Mike Jaros is the smartest legislator I've ever known, but he wasn't concerned about letting others know it. It was never his style to try to grab the spotlight; his attention and efforts were always squarely focused on the Minnesotans and constituents he cared so much about.
Jaros would tell stories about his dirt-poor upbringing on his family's farm in Bosnia and how his family traveled to Minnesota to secure a better future. He never forgot where he came from and has always fought tirelessly for the people who need a voice and ally.
Speaking of his voice, he's the only legislator I've met who knows eight languages. He also writes in two alphabets (Cyrillic and Latin). I will miss the weekly Croatian language lesson Jaros would give me on the House floor, although I only understood about half what he was saying.
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All of us at the State Capitol, and certainly the people of Duluth, will feel the absence of Rep. Jaros when the next legislative session begins in 2009. But the compassion he showed for Minnesota and the people of Duluth has already left its mark.
Thank you for everything, Mike. And thank you, Annette and the Jaros family, for sharing Mike all these years. I wish you a happy retirement. You have certainly earned it.
Tom Rukavina of Virginia is a DFL member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
