The Wake

Editor’s note: Click here to listen to an audio clip of Welti discussing youth and politics.

Andy Welti was preoccupied with the American flag this morning. The 24-year-old is a part of the Committee on Government Operations and Veterans’ Affairs, which will vote on a resolution that would urge Congress to “prohibit physical desecration of the flag of the United States.”

Welti made frantic calls to veterans in his home district to get a feel for how he should vote. As a first-term legislator at the Minnesota House of Representatives, Welti wants to make sure he accurately represents his constituents.

“Personally I feel it’s freedom of speech. The Supreme Court has already ruled on it. When are we going to allow this issue to rest?” Welti asks. “We should be focusing on the budget. We should be focusing on education.”

Before walking into the committee session, Welti admitted that he hadn’t yet made up his mind about how he would vote on the flag desecration resolution. When the vote was taken, Welti voted in favor of the resolution.

“It was a tough issue and a tough vote to take because I believe the legion and the VFWs that I represent in my district would say that they want to protect the flag,” Welti says. “I chose to take the vote of my district because that’s who I’m representing.”

A Man on the Go

A typical day for Welti begins at the Capitol between 7 and 8:30 a.m. His days often do not end until 11 p.m. or midnight. The days at the Capitol are Monday through Thursday, and Friday is designated as a day for legislators to go back to their home districts.

“Sunday is my day where I try to take it off and not do anything related to the job,” Welti says, but he still finds himself looking over bills on Sundays instead of when he sits in meetings during the week.

As a young legislator, Welti looks to the wisdom and advice of others with more experience. Welti’s office is around the corner from Rep. Ruth Johnson, who has served as somewhat of an advisor to him.

“Rep. Welti is off to a great start. He is a voracious learner, eager to put his knowledge right to work for the people he serves,” Johnson said via e-mail. “I say he is a young legislator to watch in the coming years.”

Because of his youth, Welti appealed to one precinct in his district “filled with young people,” new homeowners and college graduates, in their 20s. The district saw about 200 percent voter turnout because of all of the newly registered voters.

Getting Involved

Welti graduated from Mankato State University with a degree in secondary social studies. Ever the teacher, Welti makes sure to explain how state government works.

“Issues are rarely cut and dry,” Welti says. “There’s a huge learning curve, and everyone will talk about that.”

His own background includes involvement with 4-H and the FFA since he was about 16 years old. “I realized that I was kind of the exception back in high school,” Welti says. “Not a lot of students paid attention to politics.” He participated in the page program at the Capitol as a junior in high school to spend a week in the legislature.

“I knew I wanted to be a public servant,” Welti says, “but I never believed it would be this early.”

Welti recommends that students interested in politics and government should make the effort to make personal contact with their legislator. Events like Lobby Day can be an effective way to make sure legislators know what’s important to the average citizen. The most effective way is to make a phone call or to send an e-mail.

As Welti enters the House chamber, he passes American and Minnesota flags that represent freedom. By becoming a public servant he has given up a little of his own freedom, allowing his constituents to speak by casting a vote that opposes his personal beliefs.