Republican state Rep. John Kriesel, an injured war veteran who has won admiration from both sides of the aisle, said Thursday morning that he will not run for a second term.
"I will finish this session and the rest of 2012 strong," he said.
Kriesel said his family has suffered with his absence when he was deployed and then when he returned and ran for the Legislature.
"My military career was very tough on my family, and while being a state representative pales in comparison, it still causes additional strain at home. Juggling my job at the Capitol, my job working for the National Guard and still giving my wife and sons the time they deserve has become increasingly difficult," said Kriesel, of Cottage Grove.
Kriesel, 30, has gained notoriety for his active social media presence, often commenting about his frequent trips to Las Vegas and his love of beer. He has also been a strong and rare GOP critic of fellow Republicans who voted for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
"You can be just a regular dude ... and be able to come in here and make a difference," he said on KFAN radio, where he first made his announcement.
Kriesel won his 2010 election with a margin of just 3 percentage points over his DFL opponent.
RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER
