Anderson elected to third term in office in House 12B

WILLMAR -- Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, was re-elected to a third term in office in House District 12B, defeating his DFL challenger, Rick Rosenfield, of Alexandria.

With 56 of 61 precincts reporting unofficial results at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, Anderson, a farmer who has a long history of public service in local government, had 12,327 votes and Rosenfield had 6,260 votes.

The new District 12B includes parts of Douglas, Pope and Stearns counties.

This was Rosenfield's first attempt at seeking a political office.

Rosenfield said his 34 years of professional management and leadership roles in the manufacturing industry in Alexandria that took him across the country and around the world were credentials for working in the Minnesota legislature.

"I am not a politician but a professional manager who agrees with most of the DFL's positions," said Rosenfield in a previous interview.

Anderson touted his 30 years of elected service, including township, school board, county board and four years in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

"I would say I have a lot more experience working with government," said Anderson. "Experience does count."