Jerry Newton began serving our nation directly out of Osseo High School, spending 23 proud years in the US Army. Jerry was deployed overseas for 18 years, including 1968 and 1969 in Vietnam and seven years in the Middle East. Among his 22 awards, decorations, and medals are the Bronze Star, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze stars and was decorated by the Hmong Secret Guerrilla Unit. Upon returning from service he took over his family’s grocery business, the Blaine Dairy Store, eventually expanding to two locations. Jerry’s military service taught him the hard work and discipline necessary to manage a small business in a market dominated by giants.
Community business owner
Over the years Jerry employed hundreds of people in our community, taking pride in giving many neighborhood children their first job responsibilities. Jerry’s favorite part of owning the stores was talking to customers. Hearing their hopes and concerns for the community led Jerry to serve on both the Coon Rapids City Council, the Anoka Hennepin School Board, the Minnesota House of Representatives, the Minnesota Senate, and now back to the House.
City council Member
While serving on the Coon Rapids City council, Jerry championed development of the Riverdale shopping complex, coordinating between the state and developers to get the project done. The result was a regional retail hub and thousands of jobs for the community. While on the council, Jerry also developed and implemented a new kind of railroad crossing which improved safety while sparing the residents of Coon Rapids the noise of train whistles.
School board member
On the Anoka Hennepin School board, Jerry worked to implement the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Champlin Park High School and the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program at Blaine High School. These programs help Minnesota kids compete in the global economy.
Minnesota legislator
In the legislature, Jerry has continued to advocate for our children, veterans, seniors and our community. He authored legislation which gives disabled vets and their care givers free public transportation, and will provide housing for all homeless vets. He authored the bill which gave a much needed 5% raise to nursing home and personal care attendants serving our seniors and developmentally disabled adults. Jerry also authored a bill to increase funding for early childhood education, co-authored the bill to provide for free all-day kindergarten and expanded the free school lunch program to all low income children.
Jerry has been named the legislator of the year by the Minnesota School Board Association, and received the Association of Metropolitan School Districts' Friend of Education award.
