As Bluestem suggested earlier this week, in In a three-way romp for Terry Morrow's house seat, will Allen Quist come out on top?, the special election in southern Minnesota's House seat is setting up to be a three-way races, with strong candidates from the DFL and Independence Party.
The New Ulm Journal, the Mankato Free Press, and the St. Peter Herald reported on North Mankato teacher, union leader and mom Robin Courrier's jump in to the race. The Journal's Josh Moniz writes in Mankato teacher, union leader to run for Morrow seat in House:
Teacher and union leader Robin Courrier, of North Mankato, announced Wednesday she will run for Rep. Terry Morrow's newly vacated House of Representatives seat.Courrier will seek the DFL endorsement in the race for House District 19A. She said she was urged to run by the DFL party and her close friends.
"Part of my jumping in is that I have always been a big supporter of Terry Morrow and the issues he supports. I wanted to make sure there was somebody there to step in where he left off," said Courrier. . . .
The Free Press's Dan Linehan reports in Longtime teacher, union leader running for open House seat:
Courrier is president of the Mankato Teachers Association, the local teachers union. She’s also on the governing board for Education Minnesota, the statewide teachers union, and is on a resolution committee for the National Educational Association.
“My strengths are my problem-solving abilities and I tend to be very rational and common-sense in nature,” she said.
Courrier said important issues to her include Highway 14 funding and the implementation of a new teacher evaluation system in Minnesota.
Courrier is married to Chad Courrier, a Free Press sports writer. . . .
The St. Peter Herald reports in North Mankato educator announces for state House seat:
“Minnesota has a proud legacy of commitment to education, health care and job creation that has contributed to a healthy population. As we look toward economic recovery, it is critical that we renew our commitment to our citizens”, says Courrier.
Courrier is a strong proponent of active community involvement and volunteerism.
“As a mom, a wife, an advocate for great education and a strong supporter for human rights, I care deeply about ensuring that we have a strong education system for our kids, as well as quality health care for all. I will work tirelessly on behalf of my community to be a voice at the Capitol on issues that are so important to us at every stage of life."
Courrier and her family have long held ties with St. Peter and the North Mankato/Mankato Community. They are members of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Mankato. Robin spent one year supervising student teachers from Gustavus and MSU while mentoring for Mankato Area Public Schools. Her husband of 28 years, Chad, is a southern Minnesota native and has worked as a staff writer for the Mankato Free Press for more than 20 years.
Courrier attended Minnesota State University and holds three degrees: undergraduate elementary education, master's special education and specialist in School Administration.
The Courriers reside in North Mankato with their daughters, Maddison, 15, and Jenna, 12...
The Herald also reports on the entry of farmer, author and EcoCommerce entrepreneur Tim Gieseke Independence Party candidate considering run for Minnesota House seat. Founder of Ag Resource Strategies, the presumptive IP candidate throws a wild card in the contest.
From Gieseke's press release in the Herald:
During the last couple of decades Gieseke has worked for local government and non-profit organizations and currently runs his own business, Ag Resource Strategies. During his career, Gieseke has been involved with local, state and federal policy issues related to agriculture, renewable energy and the environment and has testified at the legislature on these issues.
Since he began his business in 2007, Gieseke worked with clients such as the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and currently is working at the national level with organizations such as the Chesapeake Bay Group and the United Nations Foundation.
“My political philosophy is based on 'a bit less government of the state and a bit more governance by the practitioners' – those people in the trades that are keeping the economy running. In the last five years my business has shown this to be successful at addressing such contentious issues such as agriculture and water at the farm level, and now it is getting noticed at the national level,” Gieseke said in the release..
Gieseke said he believes the Independence Party’s platform provides the opportunity to carry this shared governance perspective to the state capital to address other issues as well.
Gieseke said he is confident he can do the job, but with the sudden opening he is still exploring the details of the commitment and organizing his support. Gieseke, his wife, Jenny, and their three boys reside in Brighton Township and manage a 125-acre farm operation.
Who will the Republican Party put forth? Allen Quist--or another? Governor Dayton has yet to set the date for the election itself. Stay tuned.
Photo: Robin Courrier.
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