Dear Neighbor, 

I hope you enjoyed the 4th of July weekend and the commemoration of our nation’s 250th birthday. It was a great weekend in the district and it was a fantastic opportunity to see all of you at Waseca Lakefest, and the 52nd Annual Old Time Blooming Prairie Parade! Despite the inclement storms, I hope you were able to get out in the community and maybe even watch the fireworks! As always, thank you for staying engaged and reach out if you have any questions. 

I am honored to share that I was appointed by Speaker Lisa Demuth to serve on Minnesota's new Legislative Inspector General Advisory Commission, an important step in establishing the state's independent Office of the Inspector General. After years of major fraud scandals that have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, the Legislature created this office to strengthen oversight, improve accountability, and help restore public trust in state government. 

The commission's first responsibility is to identify and recommend qualified candidates to serve as Minnesota's first Inspector General. Newly enacted State law sets a high bar for the position. Candidates must have at least ten years of experience in areas such as auditing, investigations, law enforcement, or public administration, hold a nationally recognized Inspector General certification, and meet strict independence requirements. To ensure the office remains free from political influence, elected officials, agency commissioners, and other executive branch leaders are prohibited from serving within five years after the end of their previous service. 

Our commission will conduct a competitive selection process, review each applicant's qualifications, and interview candidates before recommending finalists to the governor. Those recommendations require bipartisan support from the commission, and the governor's appointment must then be confirmed by a three-fifths vote of the Minnesota Senate. 

Once established, the Office of the Inspector General will serve as an independent watchdog over state government. The office will investigate fraud, waste, and abuse, coordinate investigations across state agencies, recommend reforms to prevent future fraud, and provide regular public reports to the Legislature and Minnesotans. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on this commission because selecting the right person to lead this office is critical for its long-term success. Minnesotans deserve confidence that their tax dollars are being protected and that state government is held to the highest standards of accountability. I look forward to helping build an Office of the Inspector General that is independent, effective, and focused on restoring trust in government.

Now that the legislative session is over, we have entered the interim period, when much of our work shifts away from daily activity at the Capitol and back into our districts through meetings, community events, and constituent outreach. 

I want to make you aware of an important restriction that applies in even-numbered years. We are limited in sending unsolicited mass communications from our official capacity as legislators during the 60-day period before a general election. Because of that requirement, I will no longer be able to send these official email updates beginning July 17th. 

During that time, I plan to continue sharing updates primarily through my Facebook page, and you are always welcome to contact me directly by email or phone with any questions, concerns, or ideas. It is an honor to serve our communities, and I look forward to staying connected throughout the interim. 

Coffee with Tom will be at the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce TODAY, Friday, July 10th from 12:00pm –1:00pm (delayed one week due to the Independence Day holiday). 

Coffee with Tom will be at the Waseca Chamber of Commerce on Friday, July 17th from 12:00pm-1:00pm. 

Thank you for your support and feedback, and please reach out if you need assistance in the meantime!