Republicans have another Senate hopeful on Owatonna

OWATONNA — Yet another Republican has gone out for Sen. Dick Day’s seat, bringing the GOP slate of candidates to six.

Del Voegele of Morristown confirmed his candidacy late Tuesday night via e-mail.

“I am seeking the endorsement of the GOP,” Voegele wrote. “I am not running for anything unless I have the Republican party endorsement.”

He also sent a letter of introduction in which described himself as a 63-year-old farmer and co-owner of Last Call Liquor Store. He has been the clerk of Morristown Township for eight years.

He is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Army Guard, experiences he writes about in the letter.

“I spent two years on the Iron Curtain back in the ’60s to keep the socialist/communist at bay and I am concerned for the current path of our nation,” Voegele wrote.

Voegele rounds out a list of eight candidates who have declared their candidacy since Day announced his resignation on Dec. 8 in order to pursue a new career with a pro-gambling lobbyist group, Racino Now. All wish to vie in the upcoming special election on Jan. 26.

Voegele joins five fellow Republicans in the race: Waseca businessman Mike Parry, Owatonna Mayor Tom Kuntz, Faribault City Council member Steven Underdahl, Faribault businesswoman Teri Menard, and Ted Boosalis, the former owner of Costa’s Chocolates in Owatonna. On Wednesday, Steele County Republicans Co-Chair Dave Thul was pretty confident that no new GOP candidates would emerge.

“Of the dozen we talked to, these are the six that are seriously interested. I’ve not heard of anyone else who is on the line,” Thul said. “I would have to imagine it’s really too late for anyone to make a run at a campaign now.”

As yet, only one Democrat has publicly declared his intention to run — Jason Engbrecht, a Faribault resident and professor at St. Olaf College in Northfield. There are rumors that an OHS teacher may seek the DFL endorsement — Jeff Williams, the high school football coach. Williams did not return a call seeking comment on Tuesday. Another rumored DFL hopeful is Faribault resident Brian Vats-Fournier, who has declined to comment.

As for the other parties, Waseca Mayor Roy Srp is running as an Independence Party candidate. On Wednesday, Srp became the first candidate to make his candidacy official when he filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office. The filing period for the office began Wednesday and continues through Dec. 29.

If there are multiple candidates from one party, Gov. Tim Pawlenty allowed for a primary on Jan. 12, but party officials hope a primary won’t be necessary. Both the GOP and the DFL plan to have endorsing conventions next week to whittle the crowded field down to one candidate per party.

The Republican endorsing convention will take place on Dec. 28 at the Elks Lodge in Faribault. The DFL will hold its endorsing convention at 6:30 p.m. the same day in Owatonna at the Elks Club.

Clare Kennedy can be reached at 444-2376.

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Member Opinions: By: vates001 on 12/24/09 You can visit the Engbrecht for Senate Website to learn more about Jason, get involved, or to contribute to this short but important campaign effort: http://www.jason4senate.org/ By: MNBear on 12/24/09 "Short but important campaign effort"? Please. He's a liberal. He'll spend more, take more, and generally be another "one-worlder". There is nothing important about his campaign except to make sure HE isn't elected. By: TheMole on 12/24/09 Maybe DaMole should run, we need another mole in the government. By: Bobo777 on 12/24/09 Again, MNBear. I'm calling you out and challenging you to seek the Republican nomination - given there are no real conservatives in the race. By: MichellePederson on 12/24/09 We need information from all the candidates so that we can see that Mike Parry is the best one for the seat. www.mikeparry.com You can call or email anytime mike@mikeparry.com or 507-382-8447.
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