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Roger Skraba
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 3A district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byRob Ecklund
Personal details
Born (1961-11-29) November 29, 1961 (age 62)
Ely, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Ely, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationNorth Dakota State University (BA)
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1986-1994
RankSergeant

Roger J. Skraba (/ˈskrɑːbə/ SKRAH-bə;[1] born November 29, 1961) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Skraba represents District 3A in northern Minnesota, which includes the cities of International Falls and Ely, and parts or all of Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis Counties.[2][3]

Early life, education and career

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Born in Ely, Minnesota, Skraba graduated from Ely Memorial High School and from North Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in construction management. Skraba served in the United States Army for nine years, attaining the rank of Sergeant.[2]

Skraba served on the St. Louis County Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission. He was a member of the Ely City Council and was elected mayor of Ely four times, most recently in 2021.[2][4][5]

Skraba, who was a DFLer before joining the Republican Party of Minnesota, endorsed candidate Jeff Anderson in the 2012 DFL primary to challenge Chip Cravaack for Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.[6] After Anderson lost the primary to Rick Nolan, Skraba endorsed Cravaack.[7]

Minnesota House of Representatives

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Skraba was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. He first ran for the state House in 2002 as the Independence Party nominee, finishing third behind Republican Tom Porter and Democrat David Dill. He ran again in a 2015 special election after Dill died, and lost to DFL nominee Rob Ecklund.[8] Skraba defeated Ecklund in 2022 by 0.07 percent, triggering an automatic recount under state law, after which Skraba was declared the winner by 15 votes.[2][9][10]

Skraba serves on the Capital Investment, Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy, and Legacy Finance Committees.[2]

Political positions

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In 2010, Skraba, a longtime supporter of the mining industry, urged then-Governor Mark Dayton to pick department heads sympathetic to mining projects.[11][12] He has criticized environmentalists in the DFL party, saying that northern Minnesota has been hampered by onerous permitting processes for mining.[13] Skraba opposed the Biden administration's decision to cancel leases for Twin Metals copper-nickel mine in the region.[14]

Skraba, who has worked as a canoe guide, has supported northern Minnesota's tourism industry but said it "does not produce all the money Ely needs to function".[15][16] He supported a 2023 infrastructure package that included over $40 million in funding for projects in northern Minnesota, saying it was "a good bill for the Northland".[17] He co-sponsored a bill extending unemployment benefits to laid-off miners, which passed the legislature in 2023 with bipartisan support.[18]

Electoral history

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2002 Minnesota State House - District 06A[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) David K. Dill 10,804 56.21
Republican Tom Porter 4,318 22.46
Independence Roger Skraba 3,945 20.52
Write-in 155 0.81
Total votes 19,222 100.00
Democratic (DFL) hold
2015 Minnesota State House - District 3A Special Election[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Rob Ecklund 4,591 63.39
Republican Roger Skraba 1,399 19.32
Independent Kelsey Johnson 1,144 15.79
Write-in 109 1.50
Total votes 7,243 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 3A[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Roger Skraba 10,867 49.98
Democratic (DFL) Rob Ecklund (incumbent) 10,852 49.91
Write-in 22 0.10
Total votes 21,741 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)

Personal life

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Skraba lives in Ely, Minnesota. He is Catholic and attends St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Ely.[2]

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In 2010, while mayor of Ely, Skraba was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to driving his snowmobile in the restricted Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. He was also sentenced for breaking into a U.S. Forest Service shed and stealing a portable toilet, which he had hidden.[22] He was fined $3,630, sentenced to 40 hours of community service, and placed on probation for two years.[22] He has previously filed for bankruptcy.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Representative-Elect Natalie Zeleznikar and Roger Skraba. PBS North. December 10, 2022. Event occurs at 00:28. Retrieved August 23, 2024 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Skraba, Roger J - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  3. ^ "Rep. Roger Skraba (03A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  4. ^ Coolican, J. Patrick (September 28, 2015). "Mining is on many minds ahead of vote to replace late Rep. Dill". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  5. ^ Vandervort, Keith (2021-08-11). "Skraba set to take over as Ely mayor". The Timberjay. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  6. ^ Olson, Michael (2011-11-08). "MN-08 DFL candidates share opening thoughts on congressional race". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  7. ^ Zdechlik, Mark (2012-09-21). "Cravaack announces endorsements from officials who had backed DFLer Anderson". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  8. ^ The Associated Press (2015-12-09). "Voters choose Democratic replacement for late Rep. Dill". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  9. ^ Faircloth, Ryan (November 29, 2022). "State Canvassing Board certifies Minnesota's election results". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  10. ^ Lawler, Christa (December 7, 2022). "Two Republicans appear to have won tight northeastern Minnesota House races after recount". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  11. ^ Kelleher, Bob (2011-01-06). "Stakes high for mining projects with Dayton's DNR pick". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  12. ^ The Ely Echo (2011-01-12). "New DNR commissioner not likely what Range mayors had in mind". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  13. ^ a b Coolican, J. Patrick (September 10, 2015). "Race to replace Rep. David Dill shaping up to be wild and wide open". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  14. ^ Lawler, Christa; Bjorhus, Jennifer (January 30, 2022). "Mining, love of BWCA struggle to coexist in North Woods gateway". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  15. ^ Olson, Michael (2011-12-05). "Ely mayor trusting mining industry "up to a point," taxing Minn. skinny, gouged at MSP". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  16. ^ Kraker, Dan (2012-09-12). "Last year's Pagami Creek blaze part of trend of worsening fires". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  17. ^ Hollingsworth, Jana (May 24, 2023). "'Boy did we make history': Duluth, Arrowhead leaders celebrate region's big wins in Minnesota budget". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  18. ^ Kraker, Dan (2023-01-23). "Bill to extend benefits for laid-off mineworkers passes Minnesota House". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  19. ^ "2002 Results for State Representative District 06A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "2015 Results for State Representative District 3A Special Election". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 3A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  22. ^ a b The Associated Press (2010-05-19). "Ely mayor sentenced for BWCAW violations". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
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