SERGEANT AT ARMS OFFICE


Andy Remke, chief sergeant at arms for the Minnesota House of
Representatives, describes his job as similar to that of an
"ombudsman . . . someone House members [or the public] can ask
any question of or make a complaint to."

Remke heads up the Sergeant at Arms Office, which staffs four
assistant sergeants at arms, a postmaster and assistant
postmaster, and about 40 full-time pages.

"The sergeant at arms is someone who is visible to all the House
members and generally the person they'll get a hold of if they've
got a problem," says Remke. "We're usually able to help them; if
not, we can at least steer them in the right direction [for
help]."

Whether it's quieting a heckler at a committee meeting, passing
out parking spots, coordinating House members' transportation
needs, or hiring and training 40 new pages every session, the
sergeant at arms gets the call.

"Every day is a little bit different," Remke says.

The sergeant at arms also acts as a security liaison between the
House and Capitol Security.  "In the case of an audience member
shouting obscenities to committee members, I would first explain
the policy to the person, and then if there's still a problem,
bring in Capitol Security," he says.

Other duties of the sergeant at arms include: supervising any
ceremonial functions of the state Legislature, controlling access
to and maintaining decorum on the House floor, galleries, and
committee rooms; overseeing the College Intern and High School
Page programs; advising House leadership on the use of House
building space; and keeping all the House keys.

Toward the end of a legislative session, the sergeants at arms
will often spend their time locating rooms for last minute
conference committees, and finding scattered House members when
it's time for them to sit down and vote. The interim is largely
spent coordinating any travel or staffing needs for mini-sessions
and interim hearings.

Remke has been the chief sergeant at arms since January 1987. 
The office was created in 1857 -- one year before Minnesota
became a state. 



Originally published in 1990 in the Session Weekly, a weekly
newsmagazine published by the Minnesota House Public Information
Office.

***Last Update 8/5/94 (jtt) Last Review 8/5/94 (jtt) ***