Legislative Preview: Rep. Ryan Winkler

This week, St. Louis Park Patch will be introducing you to the three men who represent the city in the state legislature—Sen. Ron Latz, and Reps. Ryan Winkler and Steve Simon.

The 2012 legislative session kicked off Tuesday. Throughout the session, St. Louis Park Patch will bring you regular updates on what your legislators are working on and where they stand on the big issues at the Capitol.

Yesterday, we profiled .

Check back tomorrow for a look at Rep. Simon.

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Rep. Ryan Winkler

Party: DFL

District: 44B

Elected: to the House in 2006, and re-elected in 2008 and 2010

Committees: Government Operations and Elections, Legacy Funding Division, State Government Finance

Occupation: Attorney

Education: BA from Harvard, JD from University of Minnesota

Home: Golden Valley

Age: 36

Family: Wife, Jenny, and three children

Proudest accomplishment in office:

“My proudest moment in office was passing the Interstate 35W compensation bill,” Winker said. This legislation, which passed in 2008, compensated the 185 victims that were affected by the bridge collapse. 

“The state owned that bridge and it was important for the state to step up and help the people that were injured or killed that day,” he said.

As part of the bill, the state contributed $40 million to a compensation fund set up for those affected by the collapse.

Priorities:

“Overall, I want to find common ground for both parties to work on together that strengthens our state,” Winkler said. As part of that overall goal, Winkler says the following are on his to-do list this year:

• Make tax codes simpler for people and businesses.
• Connect high school students with certification programs so they have a technical education as soon as they graduate and can enter the workforce.
• Reform how government works, which includes legislation to prevent another state shutdown.
• Increase the amount of research and development from colleges by making grant money more accessible.
• Use the state surplus to pay down debt.