Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Farewell topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rep. Perry Men announces Senate bid and delivers farewell to Minnesota House
Summary
Representative Perry Men (Stearns) told colleagues he will run for the Minnesota Senate and used a farewell address to thank constituents, family, staff and bipartisan colleagues while reflecting on public service.
Representative Perry Men, the member from Stearns, told the Minnesota House that he has chosen to run for the Minnesota Senate and used a farewell address to thank constituents, colleagues, staff and family for their support.
Men opened by calling the occasion “an honor,” and said the daily conversations and constituent contacts shaped his approach in office. “Every email, every handshake…and every story shared with me matter deeply,” he said, thanking voters in his district for trusting him to represent their voices and values.
Men framed the Senate campaign as a continuation of his work in the Legislature, saying he looked forward to carrying “the voices of the communities and all the experiences and voices I heard from you” into the upper chamber. He emphasized humility and determination in the next step of his public service.
Throughout his remarks Men acknowledged the personal sacrifices that accompany elected office, thanking his family and close friends for late nights and missed weekends that supported his public duties. He also thanked staff and behind-the-scenes personnel—committee administrators, pages and security staff—“who keep the legislature moving every single day.”
He reflected on the nature of legislative work, noting moments of passionate debate and disagreement across the aisle but stressing that most who enter public office want to make a difference. “While no public servant gets every decision perfect,” Men said, “I can honestly say I gave this role my full effort and my whole heart.”
Men highlighted the value of meeting people from across the state, saying those encounters gave him hope and underscored shared priorities. In closing he offered colleagues a short piece of advice: “don’t take the bait and watch your own bobber,” and urged continued work to build stronger communities.
The remarks served both as a farewell to his service in the Minnesota House and a public announcement of his candidacy for the Minnesota Senate. No legislative action or vote accompanied the address.
