When Minnesota lawmakers convene next January, they’ll do so without Rep. Larry Howes, who has represented parts of Crow Wing, Cass and Hubbard counties since 1998.
The plain-spoken Republican parlayed his moderate demeanor and a bit of good fortune into a 14-year political career, making him the dean of north central Minnesota lawmakers. That’s not bad for someone whose entry into politics was prompted by being dragged to a political caucus by his wife in 1988.
Howes’ good fortune came in the form of two DFL opponents in two separate campaigns who either abandoned or drastically scaled down their campaigns for personal reasons. The lawmaker’s demeanor resulted in a one-on-one lunch with Gov. Mark Dayton just before Minnesota’s 20-day government shutdown was settled.
Dayton, a department store heir, and Howes, a former construction worker, ate grilled ham and cheese sandwiches at a St. Cloud bistro as they discussed what might be acceptable to all the parties involved.
Political reporters view legislators differently than other voters. The qualities we look for are honesty, a penchant for returning phone calls and the ability to sum up complicated policy issues in language newspaper readers understand. Howes scored well on all counts.
■ Item 1: A political uproar in Howes’ 2000 race ensues when the Democratic and Republican House caucuses issue hard-hitting independent ads. Talk of lawsuits and ethics charges went back and forth.
Howes’ quote: “This is a spitting contest between two caucuses and it’s too bad.”
■ Item: 2: Legislators learn in December of 2011 that projections call for an $876 million surplus.
Howes’ quote: “It’s better than a poke in the eye.”
■ Item 3: Dayton lunches privately with Howes days before the end of the 2011 government shutdown to explore a possible framework to a negotiated solution. Howes briefed the House speaker on the meeting but provided only an outline to his fellow Republican House members.
Howes’ quote: “We’ve got a great caucus but nobody can keep a secret.”
Howes lost out to Rep. John Persell, DFL-Bemidji, this month after the post-census political lines drew him into what was basically Persell’s district. When the redistricting was announced Howes said he believed he retained only Hackensack, Walker and Cass County’s Shingobee Township from his old district.
Howes named the designation of March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day and the lifetime fishing and hunting licenses as his top legislative achievements. He seemed at peace with himself in the wake of his political loss. There was no talk of blame or regrets. At 65, he said he was ready to ditch his suit and tie and spend time with his grandchildren.
Howes knows that life goes on. Let’s hope our current lawmakers learn from his examples of principles, pragmatism and perspective.
— Mike O’Rourke
Comments (10)
Add comment"Reporters view legislators differently than other voters"
How true and I hope we never have another legislator as dishonest as Larry Howes. Never represented anyone but special interests and his own self. No moral compass what so ever. Best thing to come put of this whole election.
Gee Sverre...Paul Gazelka was at Channel 4 on a Sunday...2012...
To sell his Team's Amendment...
Guess that turned out swell, ya.!.
Here's a reminder...
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/06/politics/elex-ni...
Nice job Mike
I can't say I knew Howes well but I always thought he was out of place in today's republican party--he would listen to people with ideas that ran counter to his official party position, seemed to understand the art of compromise, and didn't seem to go along with the social issue of the day his party spent so much time on. If we had more like Larry the state would be in a lot better shape today than it is, and perhaps the legislature would still be in republican hands.
PR loves him because
he was a RINO.
It all adds up coming from O'Rourke
Larry Howes was the worst thing that ever happened in the legislature. The best thing that came out of this past election was his loss. He spent more time at the back corner table of the Kelly Inn with Tom Anzelc and somebodies significant other than he did on the floor of the house. Two years ago, when asked by a group of citizens in Northern CWC/Southern Cass county for help in dealing with a problem created by the DNR, he threw the constituents under the bus and went to bed with the DNR. A short time later, he received an award from the DNR. His own caucus put him in an office tucked away in a corner with another undesireable legislator just to keep him out of the way. His dinner with Dayton was just another step in him earning the title, "RINO". (Republican In Name Only".) Howes was the greatest thing that ever happened to the DFL party. This should explain why Mike O'Rourke wrote the above article. Mike is trying to cover his bias with this article. Now he can truthfully say he also writes nice articles about republicans. WRONG. The Cass county republican party has known for years that he was not their candidate but was unable to come up with another. Larry Howes never was a republican. They just put up with him. In the above article, O'Rourke states "He scored well on all counts". That's not all he scored well on. Mr. Persell just did the GOP party in Mn. the biggest favor in their history. Although I am a strong conservative, I find myself thanking Mr. Persell for this defeat of Howes and victory for himself. Congratulations Mr. Persell. Maybe now, even though it is liberal, the people in this part of the state, have some honest representation. Miracles do happen. Thank you. You have already helped the citizens in your district and session hasn't even started. As for Larry Howes, thank you for losing. You to have also helped the citizens in your district before session even starts, by losing.
O'Rourke is right on
It's very difficult to be a moderate in the partisan political atmosphere of today.
Thanks for illustrating the problem Charlie
I hope the leaders of the party are hearing those same types of thoughts from people like you. Maybe they'll realize they have to divorce themselves from such extremism and intolerance to be successful in elections in the future!
I always thought Larry was pretty solid on natural resource issues for a republican. My sense is that whether he felt that way or not, he took a lot of input from the tourism industry and all the people whose job depends on it within his district--and that helped inform his votes. He took some heat on that within the party as the prevailing party view has no natural resource stewardship ethic at all--to them it's all their for our exploitation pleasures.
Are you the fellow who was upset at the DNR for controlling water levels to produce wild rice for ducks and ricers on the shallow lake you have a place on?
Proud Rino
That's absolutely correct. And I'm not alone. The criminals at the DNR disabled our fire protection system among other things while filling their own private pockets with taxpayers money. I was not upset about the DNR controling the water levels for wild rice for the ducks etc. What I was upset about was that this alledged wildlife manager was out of his area of management and was doing it because he and his partner from Ducks Unlimited hold one of a few permits in the state (issued by DNR) to buy, sell, process and harvest wild rice. Nice side job hey. No conflict of interest here. He also used DNR aircraft to check on his rice paddies while alledgedly checking on the wildlife herd. And the bas-----filtered word, just did it again this fall. Pushing the envelope. Stealing from the taxpayers, ruining our shorelines and lowering the water level so that the fire department dry hydrants are not useable. Based on your question above, would it be safe to assume you work for the DNR. You seem to know quite a bit for an outsider. Is Gary your friend. Now make your report to him. I won't go away.
Hey Mike, I await your answer above.
Where's your answer, Proud Rino?
Oh My!
Well now that the democrats are in power in all areas of government.....our problems will be over the way it sounds. But a quick look at history reminds me it just won't work that way. Pretty soon all of us will be paying 50% or more of our income to them and I just bet spending will still be out of control.