Tom Rukavina
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Rukavina (born August 23, 1950 in Virginia, Minnesota
) is a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
, representing District 5A since 1987. His district, known as the Mesabi Range
, includes portions of St. Louis County
in the northeastern part of the state.
Rukavina graduated from the University of Minnesota
in Duluth
with a Bachelor of Art degree
, cum laude, in political science
. He was elected to the House at age 37 in 1986. He has been re-elected every two years since, beginning his 13th term in January 2011.
Rukavina is currently a member of the House Finance Committee and the House Tax Committee, and also serves on the Finance subcommittees for the Capital Investment Finance Division and the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, which he chairs.
Rukavina garnered brief national attention from the Fox News Channel
on March 16, 2007, for a bill he had introduced to ban the sale of foreign-made American flags in Minnesota. The bill has since passed into law.
In 2009, Rukavina opposed allowing the University of Minnesota to sell beer and wine in only the premium seats at TCF Bank Stadium
. He insists that the University alter its policy as to sell alcohol to all legal age drinkers throughout the stadium, including its own students.
of Minnesota, stating that he would decide whether to make his candidacy official by early September.
He subsequently decided to run, announcing his decision at a Duluth
park on September 7, 2009. On March 30, 2010, Rukavina was endorsed by Congressman Jim Oberstar
.
Virginia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...
) is a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
, representing District 5A since 1987. His district, known as the Mesabi Range
Mesabi Range
The Mesabi Iron Range is a vast deposit of iron ore and the largest of four major iron ranges in the region collectively known as the Iron Range of Minnesota. Discovered in 1866, it is the chief deposit of iron ore in the United States. The deposit is located in northeast Minnesota, largely in...
, includes portions of St. Louis County
St. Louis County, Minnesota
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 200,226. Its county seat is Duluth. It is the largest county by total area in Minnesota, and the second largest in the United States east of the Mississippi River; in land area alone, after Aroostook...
in the northeastern part of the state.
Rukavina graduated from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota Duluth
The University of Minnesota Duluth is a regional branch of the University of Minnesota system located in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. As Duluth's public research university, UMD offers 13 bachelor's degrees in 74 majors, graduate programs in 24 different fields, a two-year program at the School of...
in Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
with a Bachelor of Art degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, cum laude, in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He was elected to the House at age 37 in 1986. He has been re-elected every two years since, beginning his 13th term in January 2011.
Rukavina is currently a member of the House Finance Committee and the House Tax Committee, and also serves on the Finance subcommittees for the Capital Investment Finance Division and the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, which he chairs.
Rukavina garnered brief national attention from the Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
on March 16, 2007, for a bill he had introduced to ban the sale of foreign-made American flags in Minnesota. The bill has since passed into law.
TCF Bank Stadium alcohol legislation controversy
Rukavina was arrested on July 31, 2004 for driving drunk. He was cited for fourth degree drunken driving. His blood alcohol level was 0.15. He had been an opponent of lowering the blood alcohol level from .10 to .08. The state legislature in 2004 approved lowering the level beginning August 2005.In 2009, Rukavina opposed allowing the University of Minnesota to sell beer and wine in only the premium seats at TCF Bank Stadium
TCF Bank Stadium
TCF Bank Stadium, sometimes referred to as either "The Bank" or "The Gopher Hole," is the football stadium for the Minnesota Golden Gophers college football team at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
. He insists that the University alter its policy as to sell alcohol to all legal age drinkers throughout the stadium, including its own students.
2010 gubernatorial campaign
On July 23, 2009, Rukavina filed paperwork allowing him to explore running for governorGovernor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
of Minnesota, stating that he would decide whether to make his candidacy official by early September.
He subsequently decided to run, announcing his decision at a Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
park on September 7, 2009. On March 30, 2010, Rukavina was endorsed by Congressman Jim Oberstar
Jim Oberstar
James Louis "Jim" Oberstar is a former U.S. Representative who served in the U.S. Congress from 1975 until 2011 as a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. He represented northeastern , which included the cities of Duluth, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, International Falls, and Hibbing...
.
External links
- Rep. Rukavina Web Page
- Minnesota Public Radio - Votetracker: Tom Rukavina Voting Record
- Project Vote Smart - Rep. Tom Rukavina Profile
- Follow the Money - Thomas Rukavina Campaign Contributions
- Rep. Rukavina Campaign Web Site
- Rukavina for Governor, 2010 web site