Not enough candidates for you in the governor's race? Despite Congressman Walz's "significant" fundraising edge--or perhaps because of it--more people have jumped into the ring.
Post Bulletin reporter Heather Carlson posts at the paper's political party blog that Two IP candidates jump into 1CD race
Actually, one seeks the Independence Party endorsement, while the other is a very conservative small-"i" independent.
Moreover, blogger and Steele County GOP chair Dave Thul writes at True North that Minnesota National Lt. Col Jim Engstrand has joined Randy Demmer, Jim Hagedorn and Allen Quist in seeking the Republican endorsement.
Carlson writes of Steve Wilson:
The other candidate is Steven Wilson of Rochester. He will make his formal announcement during the IP caucuses at 7 p.m. at the Heintz Center in Rochester.
Wilson recently completed a one-year tour in Iraq as a diplomat with the U.S. State Department and was embedded in the U.S. Army. His work revolved around job creation. He has 20 years of economic development experience.
“The whole time I was in Iraq, people would say to my wife, 'He should be helping create jobs here.' I agree with them. My passion is for small businesses in southern Minnesota,” said Wilson in a news release.
Besides economic development, Wilson said he would focus on reducing the national debt, which he sees as the “number one threat to America.”
Wilson grew up in Houston County and lived with his family in Mower, Fillmore, Wabasha and Olmsted County. He is also the founder of a Minnesota nonprofit called “Bridge Builders for Kids.” The organization supports children who have a parent in prison. Here is a link to his Web site.
Wilson's entry into the race as an Independence Party candidate continues this cycle's trend of disaffected Republicans seeking an Indepedence Party endorsement. Other former Republicans seeking Independence Party endorsement include Tom Horner and Joe Repya in the governor's race.
In 2006, Wilson was endorsed by Senate District 28 Republicans, but was defeated in the primary after a bitter campaign by Steve Drazkowski, who was defeated in his turn by incumbent state senator Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing).
In the September 8, 2006, "'The Steves' do battle to take on incumbents," (Nexis only) the Post Bulletin included the following profile:
Steve Wilson
Age: 45
Hometown: Lake City
Education: Graduated from University of Wisconsin-River Falls, majoring in agriculture and journalism.
Family: Wife, Jeanne; two children, Ben and Brittany
Work experience: Executive director of Coyote Ridge Christian Ranch, a state nonprofit aimed at preventing crime and poverty.
Government experience: Performed contract work for the U.S. Agency for International Development; participated in President Bush's faith-based initiative by writing three proposals to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, bringing money into the state.
Volunteer work: Board chairman of the Family Restoration Center in Minneapolis, a nonprofit aimed at strengthening families; board chairman of the Good Shepherd Church in Plainview; organizer of many youth events in Wabasha.
Bridge Builders is located at the Coyote Ridge Christian Ranch, according to the organization's web site.
Carlson's post describes Lars Johnson as an IP candidate:
Two candidates announced they are seeking the Independence Party endorsement with hopes of taking on Democrat Tim Walz in November.
Today, Lars Johnson, an independent businessman, planned to announce his run for Congress.
“I believe that the U.S. Constitution is a job description for the federal government and for the elected or appointed officials it describes,” Johnson said in a release. “Members of Congress should behave, as their oath of office explicitly states, in ways that demonstrate they are indeed committed to upholding the integrity of our constitutional republic."
A look at Johnson's web site suggests that Johnson is more in line with the positions taken by Ron Paul or the Tea Party, along with a strong dose of Christian theocracy, than with the Independence Party. On the PB blog, David Kell, who serves with Lars Johnson on the board of elders of Hope Summit Christian Church in Rochester, notes that Johnson is running as a small "i" independent.
Finally, Thul notes in Shifting targets that Engstrand has thrown his hat into the Republican ring after returning from Iraq. I noticed that Engstrand's home and home business phone number placed him in the Second CD. A candidate running for office in a district where he doesn't live is generally considered "carpetbagging" though it is entirely legal.
Reached by phone this evening, Engstrand said that he was finishing up sprucing up his residence in Goodhue County in preparation for a move south of Pine Island to a new home in Olmsted County's New Haven Township.
In addition to the information Thul provides, it's worth noting--given the entrance of Wilson as an IP hopeful--that Engstrand is State Rep. Steve Drazkowski's campaign committee treasurer.
Will Engstrand's last minute entry prove successful in securing the GOP endorsement? Will an IP candidate change the game? And how will an overtly conservative and fundamentalist independent candidate affect the contest?
Stay tuned.
Photo: It's a crowd! it's a prank! No! It's the congressional race in the First District.
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