By: atlascollapsed on 12/18/09
So 2 republicans and a former democrat running for the indepence party have announced so far. Where are the DFL'ers? Hugo Chavez to busy over in Coppenhagen? He's probably not a resident but I'm sure they could scrounge up a utility bill and a leftist to vouch for him.(or is that just for voting, not for running?)

With a few thousand candidates for governor is the DFL even going to spend a single $ on this race?

By: Thuljunior on 12/18/09
Actually there are 5 Republicans running so far, but it does make you wonder where the DFL is and what they are doing to find candidates.

By: kadrmas21 on 12/18/09
Oh the dems will find someone. My guess, State Rep Patti Fritz will try running. If she passes than maybe Kory Kath might give up his seat after one term to try to get a Senate seat? The problem I think is the dems do not want their incumbent house members to give up their house seats because they are afraid of losing them to the republicans.

The big rumor in the grapevine is that former Faribault Mayor Chuck Ackman might run for the democrats. However the question is, is Ackman even a resident of this State Senate district anymore? Ackman went to work for Amy Klobuchar, running her Rochester State Office so I do not know if he (Ackman) would even be eligible to run? Plus I am not sure if he would be willing to give up his job in Klobuchar's office where he makes I am sure way more money than he would as a State Senator?

Roy Srp running as an Independent, ughh, he will be a thorn in the side of the republicans. This is mainly because people who are liberal are much more likely to vote for the democrat than the independent. Whereas people that are more conservative tend to be more likely to vote independent. Basically, Srp will take votes from the republican candidate although I do not think Srp will win but I think he could help the democrat win, even if the democrat candidate is little known. Since Srp is from Waseca, I expect he would probably carry the Waseca County portion of the district, a county that is normally solid republican territory.

However Srp might not have as easy of a time if Mike Parry is the republican nominee. I expected Kuntz would throw his hat in the ring but after Kuntz got schooled by the relatively unknown Kory Kath last year I think Parry has a better shot at the GOP nomination than Kuntz. However the local GOP around here has a tendency to make bad decisions.

By: alittlebitofsugar on 12/18/09
Thuljunior who are the five?

By: secretsquirrel on 12/19/09
Chuck Ackman? LOL Yeah, he stands about as much chance of winning the race as I do running on a platform of fecal reform on high school football fields.
No, I think Chuck will stick with the money and the security of working as Amy's watchdog. At least for a while.

By: secretsquirrel on 12/19/09
Sugar - Here's the link AND the highlights:

http://www.owatonna.com/news.php?viewStory=112827

“Waseca Republican Mike Parry declared his intention to run within hours of Day’s announcement.

Close on Parry’s heels was Waseca Mayor Roy Srp, who is running as an Independence Party [VFP or Vowel Free Party] candidate

This Friday, four more Republicans officially threw their hats into the ring, said Dave Thul, the co-chair of Steele County Republicans.

The first was Owatonna Mayor Tom Kuntz.

Republicans in the region will have two Owatonna contenders to choose from. Ted Boosalis, the former owner of Costa’s Chocolates, is hoping to win the Republican endorsement. [Go pookah go!]

One is Faribault City Council member Steven Underdahl, who owns and operates a contracting company, Procon Inc.

The fourth Republican to declare candidacy on Friday was Teri Menard, a businesswoman in Faribault.”

I count six declared, one or two qualified and one rumored… please check my math and my opinions.
~SS~

By: MichellePederson on 12/27/09
For more information on Mike Parry, who is best for the seat, go to www.mikeparry.com. You can call or email Mike anytime 507-382-8447 or mike@mikeparry.com.