Jerry Relph
State senateMinnesota
District14th
Term startJanuary 3, 2017
Term endDecember 18, 2020
PredecessorJohn Pederson
SuccessorAric Putnam
Birth dateSeptember 4, 1944[1]
Birth placeBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Death dateDecember 18, 2020 (aged 76)
Death placeSaint Cloud, Minnesota, U.S.
PartyRepublican Party of Minnesota
SpouseColette (m. 1972; died 1999)
Pegi Broker (m. 2002)
Alma materCarleton College
William Mitchell College of Law

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-19 complications in 2020.[2] Six weeks before 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]

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.[citation needed] 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 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota 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 from complications of the virus on December 18.[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 December 19, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. 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 December 19, 2020 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ Gabriel, Trip (January 18, 2021). "In Minnesota, a G.O.P. Lawmaker's Death Brings Home the Reality of Covid". The New York Times. – 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 December 19, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. 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 April 2, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. 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 December 19, 2020 at the Wayback Machine.
  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 December 19, 2020 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ^ Hertel, Nora G. (June 14, 2019). "On climate, energy, health care, taxes: Lawmakers round out session in St. Cloud". St. Cloud Times. Archived December 19, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. 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 October 29, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  13. ^ Sanchez, Rosa (December 19, 2020). "State senator dies from COVID-19 complications". ABC News. Archived December 20, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. 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 November 24, 2020 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ^ Gabriel, Trip (2021-01-18). "In Minnesota, a G.O.P. Lawmaker's Death Brings Home the Reality of Covid". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  16. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (December 18, 2020). "Minnesota state Sen. Jerry Relph is first Minnesota lawmaker to die of COVID-19". Star Tribune. Archived December 19, 2020 at the Wayback Machine.