General information
I studied to become a teacher. I worked in school for more than ten years, but I have spent most of my working life in civil service. I have been Mayor of Võhma, Managing Director of the Association of Estonian Cities, member of three Riigikogus, Minister of Social Affairs, and Minister of Public Administration. I have five grandchildren.
I want to stand for a fair and solidary state. I have the experience and knowledge to have my say in the areas of the national social and health policy, regional policy, and the state reform. I definitely stand for the interests of my electoral district – Järva county and Viljandi county.
Parliamentary group:
Committee:
Electoral district:
E-mail:
Phone:
+372 631 6693
Seniority in days:
3442
Date of birth:
09.04.1960
Place of birth:
Taagepera village, Valga County
Family:
Married, two children, five grandchildren
Education:
Viljandi Secondary School No. 5 in 1978;
Tallinn University, Russian language and literature (equivalent to Master’s degree) 1986
Tallinn University, Russian language and literature (equivalent to Master’s degree) 1986
Career:
Ala 8-Year School, teacher 1983–1985;
Võhma Secondary School, teacher, Head of Extracurricular Education, Head Teacher 1985–1991;
vacation substitute in Pielavesi Municipality in Finland 1991–1994;
Deputy Mayor of Võhma 1994–1998, Mayor of Võhma 1998–2002;
Association of Estonian Cities, Managing Director 2003–2005;
Minister of Social Affairs 2005–2007;
municipality consultant in Finland 2012–2015;
Estonian Centre Party Parliamentary Group of the Riigikogu, Adviser 2015–2016;
Estonian Centre Party, Secretary General 2016–2017;
Minister of Public Administration 2017–2018, 2019–2020, 2021–2022;
Tallinn Hospital, Project Adviser 2018–2019;
Minister of Education and Research 2020–2021
Võhma Secondary School, teacher, Head of Extracurricular Education, Head Teacher 1985–1991;
vacation substitute in Pielavesi Municipality in Finland 1991–1994;
Deputy Mayor of Võhma 1994–1998, Mayor of Võhma 1998–2002;
Association of Estonian Cities, Managing Director 2003–2005;
Minister of Social Affairs 2005–2007;
municipality consultant in Finland 2012–2015;
Estonian Centre Party Parliamentary Group of the Riigikogu, Adviser 2015–2016;
Estonian Centre Party, Secretary General 2016–2017;
Minister of Public Administration 2017–2018, 2019–2020, 2021–2022;
Tallinn Hospital, Project Adviser 2018–2019;
Minister of Education and Research 2020–2021
Party affiliation:
Estonian Centre Party 1994–2024;
Social Democratic Party 2024–, Member of Board
Social Democratic Party 2024–, Member of Board
Membership in representative bodies:
9th Riigikogu 2002–2003 (Chair of Committee of Investigation on the Privatisation of Narva Power Plants Ltd), 11th Riigikogu (Deputy Chair of Social Affairs Committee), 14th and 15th Riigikogu (Deputy Chair of Finance Committee 2022–);
Tallinn City Council 2018–2019, Jõelähtme Rural Municipality Council 2025– (Chair), elected to Võhma City Council 1993–2005 (member of several compositions) and to Viljandi City Council 2009 and 2021
Tallinn City Council 2018–2019, Jõelähtme Rural Municipality Council 2025– (Chair), elected to Võhma City Council 1993–2005 (member of several compositions) and to Viljandi City Council 2009 and 2021
Hobbies:
history, literature, sports