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Ray Cox among many Oles serving in Minnesota Legislature

By Amy Gage
January 9, 2003

Ray Cox '73, owner of Northfield Construction and a lifelong resident of Northfield, Minn., took his seat in the state Legislature this month as the newly elected representative for House District 25B. Cox joins Republican Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum '73 of Kenyon and Republican Majority Leader Erik Paulsen '87 of Eden Prairie. Other Oles serving in the Minnesota Legislature include Rep. Doug Meslow '81 (R-White Bear Lake) and Senators Satveer Chaudhary '91 (DFL-Fridley), David Knutson '82 (R-Apple Valley), John Marty '78 (DFL-Roseville) and Tom Saxhaug '70 (DFL-Grand Rapids).

In a dramatic runoff, Cox beat fellow Ole David Bly '74, a public school teacher who lives within a block of campus, by a mere 20 votes. A recount, completed three weeks after the Nov. 5 election, put Cox on top by 44 votes, out of 17,500 cast. The recently redrawn District 25B includes Northfield, Lonsdale and Belle Plaine -- all small towns that are becoming Twin Cities bedroom communities -- as well as significant agricultural areas.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.