Tweets by Minnesota House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt and St. Cloud Times staff writer Mark Sommerhauser report that small business owner Tama Theis has been endorsed by Republican delegates at the endorsing convention for the open seat created by the sudden resignation of Steve Gottwalt.
Gottwalt had given the nominating speech for Theis, according to Sommerhauser.
Sommerhauser's tweet noted that Theis was picked on the seventh ballot. She had started at third on the first ballots that featured closely packed votes between former St. Cloud city council member John Severson, Iraq War vet Scott MacHardy and Theis. Area business man Greg Engel was a distant third and had dropped out after the third ballot.
MacHardy dropped out after the fourth ballot, Sommerhauser reported, and endorsed Severson.
All of the Republicans except for Theis had agreed to abide by the endorsement--and Jerry McCarter has dropped his bid for the DFL endorsement and now supports Joanne Dorsher. Baring any changes of heart or surprise filings by the close of business on Tuesday, there will be no primary in the special election in 14A.
Joanne Dorsher has created a Facebook page for supporters and political junkies; "Like" it by clicking on this link if you are on Facebook.
Rep. Steve Gottwalt's resignation to take a lobbying job triggered the February 12, 2013 special election for the open seat in the Republican-leaning district.
Photo: Tama Theis, via the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce.
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