Lesch, John
House 2003-2012 (District 66A); House 2013-2020 (District 66B)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Ramsey
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
1/15/1973
Birth Place:
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Birth County:
Hennepin
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Saint Paul
Occupation (when first elected):
Prosecutor, City of St. Paul
EDUCATION
Holy Name Seminary, Wisconsin; Secondary; Junior and Senior Years, Priest Studies
Osseo High School; Secondary; Freshman and Sophmore Years
St. Louis University; B.A.; Philosophy and Psychology
Hamline University School of Law; J.D.; 1998
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Municipal Government:
St. Paul, Minnesota (Legislative Assistant to City Coucil Member Chris Coleman);
19?? to ?
State Legislative Staff:
Minnesota House of Representatives (Intern for Representative Andy Dawkins);
1997 to 1998
Municipal Attorney:
Saint Paul, Minnesota (City Prosecutor; 15 years);
2001 to 20??
Military:
Minnesota National Guard (Infantry; 8 years);
10/12/2009 to 20??
State Board/Commission/Council:
Attorney General's Advisory Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Prices;
2019 to ?
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Tina Marie (divorced around 2004); Melissa Reed (married September 2012)
Children:
Three children: Alice, Eleanor, Eilah (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party endorsement for the Minnesota Senate in the 2011 special election primary. He lost the endorsement to Mary Jo McGuire.
In 2018, he ran for attorney general, but he withdrew from the race.
In 2020, he won DFL endorsement for re-election but lost the primary.
He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Minnesota National Guard and was called to inactive duty training at Camp Ripley in 2014 at the end of the legislative session. He was sent back to St. Paul after one day to fulfil his duties as a legislator (Star Tribune, May 24, 2014).
Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.
Body: House
District: 66B
Elected: 11/6/2018
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/8/2019 to 1/4/2021
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce
Minutes
-
Taxes
Minutes
-
Ways & Means: Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Division (Chair)
Minutes
-
Ways & Means: Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance & Policy Division
Minutes
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in primary
Body: House
District: 66B
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/7/2019
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2017 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Civil Law & Data Practices Policy
Minutes
-
Rules & Legislative Administration
Minutes
-
State Government Finance: Veterans Affairs Division
Minutes
-
Taxes
Minutes
Body: House
District: 66B
Elected: 11/4/2014
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Prosecutor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Civil Law & Data Practices
Minutes
-
State Government Finance: Veterans Affairs Division
Minutes
-
Taxes
Minutes
Body: House
District: 66B
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Body: House
District: 66A
Elected: 11/2/2010
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Leadership Position:
Minority Whip
Body: House
District: 66A
Elected: 11/4/2008
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Finance: Public Safety Finance Division
Minutes
-
Public Safety Policy and Oversight
Minutes
-
Public Safety Policy and Oversight: Crime Victims/Criminal Records Division (Chair)
Minutes
-
Taxes
Minutes
Body: House
District: 66A
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Finance: Public Safety Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: State Government Finance Division
Minutes
-
Public Safety and Civil Justice
Minutes
-
Public Safety and Civil Justice: Crime Victims (Chair)
Minutes
-
Public Safety and Civil Justice: Criminal Records Relief (Chair)
Minutes
-
Public Safety and Civil Justice: Data Practices
Minutes
-
Taxes
Minutes
Body: House
District: 66A
Elected: 11/2/2004
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Body: House
District: 66A
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy
Minutes
-
Judiciary Policy and Finance
Minutes
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
Minutes