The West Central Tribune made a series of candidate endorsements during the past two weeks in competitive races. Here is a review of those endorsements.
Kandiyohi County:
Kandiyohi County District 5: Harlen Madsen or Andrew Lindquist. Madsen is a dairy farmer and has focused on his leadership and experience. Lindquist is a construction manager and has focused on more open county government.
Legislature:
Senate District 13: Re-elect Dean E. Johnson. He currently serves as Senate Majority Leader and has served seven terms in the Senate. He has also served in the House and the Willmar City Council. A pastor from Willmar, he is a Democrat.
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House District 13A: Re-elect Bud Heidgerken. He has served two terms in the House. He is a retired teacher and business owner from Freeport and is a Republican.
House District 13B: Re-elect Al Juhnke. He has served 10 years in the House and serves on the Agriculture Committee. A real estate appraiser from Willmar, he is a Democrat.
Senate District 14: Re-elect Michelle Fischbach. She has experience from 10 years in the Senate as well as on Paynesville City Council. She is a Republican from Paynesville.
House District 14B: Re-elect Larry Hosch. He has successfully completed his first term and is the former mayor of St. Joseph. He is a Democrat from St. Joseph.
Senate District 18: Re-elect Steve Dille. He has served 14 years in the Minnesota Senate and experience in the state House and on county and township boards. A veterinarian and farmer from Dassel, he is a Republican.
House District 18B: Elect David Detert. His medical experience of more than 25 years is badly needed in the Legislature. He is a family physician from Litchfield and is a Democrat.
Senate District 20: Re-elect Gary Kubly. In addition to his first Senate term, he also has served three terms in the Minnesota House. He is a pastor from Granite Falls and is a Democrat.
House District 20A: Re-elect Aaron Peterson. A two-term representative, he has a passion for and knowledge about renewable energy. A landuse consultant from Appleton, he is a Democrat.
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House District 20B: Elect Scott Van Binsbergen. He is completing his second run for a seat in the House. A Montevideo business leader, he is a Republican.
State
Governor: Re-elect Tim Pawlenty. He has served one term as governor and has served in the Minnesota House. An attorney from Eagan, he is a Republican.
Attorney General: Elect Jeff Johnson. He has served three terms in the Minnesota House. An attorney from Plymouth, he is a Republican.
Secretary of State: Re-elect Mary Kiffmeyer. She has served two years as secretary of state. She resides in Big Lake Township and is a Republican.
Auditor: Re-elect Pat Anderson. She has served one term as attorney general. She also has served as Eagen's mayor and on the city council member. She is from Eagan and is a Republican.
Transportation Amendment: Vote "no" on the transportation amendment. It is a poorly-written amendment that could endanger rural transportation funding.
Federal
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U.S. Senator: Elect Amy Klobuchar. She has focused on the issues of importance in the state. She has served eight years as Hennepin County Attorney. She is a Democrat from Minneapolis.
Seventh District: Re-elect Collin Peterson. He is a strong agriculture advocate and knows his large 35-county district. A accountant from Detroit Lakes, he is a Democrat.
Sixth District: Elect Patty Wetterling. She has demonstrated her leadership through her advocacy for children in the past 17 years. A childrens advocate from St. Joseph, she is a Democrat.
