Linda Reksten
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linda Reksten is an American politician from Montana. She is a Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives. In 2024 she was elected to the 13th district which covers the Polson area.[1] Previously she was elected to the 12th district in 2020 and 2022.[2][3]
Linda Reksten | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 13th district | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Fielder |
| Member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 12th district | |
| In office January 4, 2021 – January 6, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Greg Hertz |
| Succeeded by | Tracy Sharp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1951 (age 74–75) Polson, Montana, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Eastern Montana College (BS) Point Loma Nazarene University (MA) University of California Los Angeles (EdD) |
| Occupation | School district superintendent |
Reksten worked for more than 30 years in education prior to her election.[4] In 1982 she began her teaching career in California, working for the Burbank Unified School District. From 1986 to 2003 Reksten was the principal of Disney Elementary School.[5] During her time as principal Disney Elementary School became the most ethnically diverse school in Burbank Unified School District, with 44% of the student population speaking limited English.[5] She also was a college professor at Point Loma Nazarene University.[5] Reksten published two books with Corwin Press.[5]
Reksten first ran for election in 2020, defeating Gerry Browning.[6] She took the seat of Greg Hertz who had reached his term limit. In 2022 she faced challenger Sterling Laudon, an attorney in Polson.[7] She won with 62% of the vote.[8]
Due to redistricting following the US census Reksten ran for District 13 in the 2024 elections.[9] The Democratic candidate, Shirley Azzopardi, also spent her career as an educator.[10] Reksten won 61% of the vote, securing her third term in the House of Representatives.[11] She was appointed chair to the House Education Committee.[1]
