 A former Democratic state lawmaker Tom Rucavina, a champion of Northeastern Minnesota's Blue Collar Iron Range, has died. He was 68. State Senator David Tomassoni of SHISM says Rucavina died Monday in Minneapolis where he was being treated for an aggressive form of leukemia. Rucavina was born in Virginia, Minnesota and served in the Minnesota House for 25 years until 2012. He was later elected to the St. Louis County Board and served there until retiring last year. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar tweeted she will miss Rucavina's zest for life and love for the people he represented so well. And DFL chairman Ken Martin says Rucavina was a bulldog for all of the working men and women in Minnesota. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.