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| Senate race takes shape |
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Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 10:17 pm
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By CLARE KENNEDY
Staff Writer
OWATONNA — The list of candidates lining up for Sen. Dick Day’s Minnesota Senate seat grew a little longer on Tuesday.
One Democrat has publicly declared his intention to run — Jason Engbrecht, a Faribault resident and professor at St. Olaf College in Northfield. Engbrecht has some previous political experience — he currently serves on the Faribault School Board, a post he has held one year.
Engbrecht said Tuesday that officials from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party called him about a week ago.
“They asked me if I would think about running and for the last week I’ve talked to family, friends, and people at work,” Engbrecht said. “On Saturday, I became convinced that we had a good shot.”
Engbrecht is in good company. Since Day announced his resignation on Dec. 8, a large number of candidates have come forward to take his place. By Friday, five Republicans and one Independence Party candidate planned to vie in the upcoming special election on Jan. 26.
So far, Engbrecht is the only Democrat to publicly declare his intention to run. Otherwise, would-be candidates have kept a low profile. One thing is clear: Rep. Kory Kath will stay in the state house.
“I was thinking about it at one point in time, but I’m very happy to represent District 26A in the House,” said Kath, who also teaches at Owatonna Senior High. “I’m very passionate about the work I’ve started. I will not be seeking endorsement as a Senate candidate.”
There are rumors that another OHS teacher may seek the DFL endorsement — Jeff Williams, the high school football coach. Williams did not return a call seeking comment on Tuesday.
However, Steele County DFL Chair Vicki Jensen confirmed that Williams had expressed interest.
“I did speak with Jeff Williams,” Jensen said. “I don’t know if he will or not, but we talked about it.
Jensen said she had spoken with a few other people about running for the office, but none have come forward yet. Another rumored DFL hopeful is Faribault resident Brian Vats-Fournier, who declined to comment on Friday.
As for the other parties, Waseca Mayor Roy Srp is running as an Independence Party candidate.
The field is already crowded with the Republicans. As of Tuesday, five have openly declared their intention to run: 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.
There may be more candidates who have yet to come out of the woodwork, said David Thul, the co-chair of Steele County Republicans. Thul said another possible Republican candidate had told party leaders he would throw his hat in, though he had yet to make a public announcement.
If there are multiple candidates from one party, Gov. Tim Pawlenty allowed for a primary on Jan. 12, but Thul said it probably 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.
“We’re 99 percent sure we won’t have to worry about a primary,” Thul said. “We’re getting verbal and written agreements from the candidates to abide by endorsement process. They could go around it but then they would be a persona non grata in the 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.
The filing period for the office begins today and continues through Dec. 29.
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