The Brooklyn Park community is mourning former state lawmaker Rep. Michael Nelson, who passed away, according to family and legislative leaders.
Lawmakers and others posted tributes to Nelson on social media over the weekend.
He was 71 years old.
Nelson spent 22 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives as a DFLer.
A carpenter by trade and a union official, Nelson was first elected to represent Brooklyn Park and parts of Osseo in 2002.
At various times during his tenure, he chaired the Government Operations Committee, the State…