Tevlin: With Dude of the Statehouse departing, we lose a class act

Rep. John Kriesel was putting his two boys, Broden and Elijah, to bed a few weeks ago when he delivered some news that got their attention.

"I've decided not to run for re-election," Kriesel said.

A big smile broke out on Broden's face.

"Does that mean you'll be around a lot more?" Elijah asked.

"I promise I will," said Kriesel.

The Kriesel kids' gain will be the state's loss.

A veteran of the Iraq war, the quick-witted and good-natured Republican from Cottage Grove had become the Dude in the Statehouse, a guy's guy who showed uncommon common sense and rare bravery and independence.

"No scandal," said Kriesel, cracking a big smile. "That excuse -- I'm doing it for my family -- has been cheapened."

He said he also wasn't fearful that an attack by Tea Party activists would threaten his seat. Make no mistake, Kriesel considers himself a loyal Republican, but he also broke rank when his conscience told him to. Most notable was his passionate speech on the House floor in which he talked about gay soldiers who fought next to him who, under his party's proposal, would be banned from getting married. It was a speech that drew raucous cheers from gay rights supporters gathered outside the chambers.

Sitting in his back row seat in the Minnesota House on Wednesday, Kriesel was at times in awe of what his one term in office allowed him to do.

Looking up at the ornate ceiling and impressive artwork, Kriesel said, "I love this job. I visited the Capitol when I was a kid and was amazed, but I never thought I'd be sitting here."

As he chatted, action continued on the floor, but Kriesel ignored it.

It's typical candor from Kriesel, who once told me the most distinctive difference between this job and his job in the military is that every one of his fellow soldiers was doing the job for their country, rather than themselves.

He was quick to point out that he respected the hard work of many of his colleagues, and would miss them.

"Republicans get labeled as mean-spirited, and some of them do it to themselves," he said. But he's also gotten to know a lot of legislators "who are willing to have an open mind and look at the other side."

He said every one of them sacrifices family life for the job, which is why he's quitting.

It's Katie's turn now

"She's passed on a couple of opportunities, and she's got a lot to offer," said Kriesel. "It's her turn to shine. The sky is the limit for her."

Kriesel's adoration of his wife is evident when he speaks about how she gave up everything when he was wounded, and insisted on being with him when the anti-gay marriage vote was taken -- a low point in his term that made him "numb."

A big sports fan who has a Vikings tattoo on his arm, Kriesel uses a football analogy when describing how lucky he was to find a woman who is both smart and pretty: "Yeah, I really out-kicked my coverage," he said.

"The biggest thing I'm proud of is showing that a regular guy can come in here and make a difference," Kriesel said. "Instead of sitting home getting angry watching the news, I had a say."

"Now, I don't think I'm just the representative who lost his legs in Iraq," said Kriesel. "It's 'Hey, it's the representative who busted his ass here.'"

Wait, a Republican who acknowledges people sometimes need help from the government?

"I've had so many people help me along the way," said Kriesel. "People had fundraisers and benefits when I was wounded. It feels good to give back a little."

Kriesel will continue a second, part-time job doing marketing for the Army National Guard, but mostly, he'll be a dad.

"I'm going to teach my boys how to fish and play ball and cook meat," Kriesel said. "I'm going to go to Las Vegas with my buddies. I'm going to put in the dock at my cabin up on Lake Mille Lacs.

"Feet up, cocktail in hand, meat in the smoker."