{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder | name = John Persell | image = John_Persell_2018_Debate.jpg | district = | term_start = January 8, 2019 | term_end = January 4, 2021 | term_start2 = January 6, 2009 | term_end2 = January 2, 2017 | party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1950}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = Bemidji State University | occupation = | spouse = | children = 3| | constituency = District 5A | constituency2 = District 5A (2013–2017)<br />District 4A (2009–2013) | successor = Matt Bliss | successor2 = Matt Bliss | predecessor = Matt Bliss | predecessor2 = Frank Moe | office = Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives }}
'''John Sterling Persell, Jr.''' (born 1950) is an American DFL politician who represented District 5A in the Minnesota House of Representatives in northern Minnesota, first winning election in 2008.
==Early life, education, and career== Persell majored in biology at Bemidji State University, and served in the United States Air Force. He was a member of the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation Board, and of the Frohn Township Board of Supervisors. Persell is a member of the American Legion Honor Guard, and has worked as a mentor in the STEM Program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) at Leech Lake Tribal College in Cass Lake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=109088 |title=Project Vote Smart - Representative John Persell - Biography |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.johnpersell.com/bio.htm |title=Vote John Persell I Minnesota House of Representatives District 4A |publisher=Johnpersell.com |access-date=2010-07-20 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713114124/http://www.johnpersell.com/bio.htm |archive-date=2011-07-13 }}</ref> He is also a retired water quality specialist and environmental policy analyst for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=15298 |title=Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Persell, Jr., John Sterling |publisher=Leg.state.mn.us |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref>
==Minnesota House of Representatives== Persell was elected in 2008, running after two-term Representative Frank Moe opted not to seek reelection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://buildourparty.blogspot.com/2008/04/frank-moe-wont-seek-relection-in-2008.html |title=Blue man in a Red district: Frank Moe won't seek relection {{sic|nolink=y}} in 2008 |publisher=Buildourparty.blogspot.com |date=2008-04-20 |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref> He was reelected in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
In 2016 he lost reelection to Republican Matt Bliss. In a rematch in 2018, Persell beat Bliss by just 11 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/12/03/persell-wins-bemidji-recount |last=Enger |first=John |title=DFLer John Persell wins after a Minn. House seat recount |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=December 3, 2018}}</ref> He was chosen to lead the Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2018/11/house-democrats-signal-priorities-in-new-committee-structure/ |last=Bierschbach |first=Briana |title=House Democrats signal priorities in new committee structure |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=November 21, 2018}}</ref>
In 2020, he was challenged by Bliss again, and defeated by 1,485 votes.[https://www.desmoinesregister.com/elections/results/race/2020-11-03-state_house-MN-24326/]
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{MN-legdb|15298}} * [https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=15298 Official House of Representatives website] * [http://www.johnpersell.com/ Official campaign website] * [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=109088 Project Votesmart - Rep. John Persell Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Persell, John}} Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:People from Beltrami County, Minnesota Category:Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature