Media outlets in Minnesota State Senate District 19 have reported that North Mankato attorney Nick Frentz has declared his intentions to seek the seat left open by the retirement of Kathy Sheran.
The campaign has set up a Facebook page.
At the St. Peter Herald, Dana Melius reports in North Mankato lawyer files for District 19 state senate seat:
It didn’t take long for a candidate to emerge for the Minnesota Senate seat currently held by Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL-Mankato, who on Dec. 28 announced her plans to retire at the end of the upcoming 2016 legislation session.
Nick Frentz, a North Mankato resident and 28-year partner with Frentz and Frentz Law Offices in Mankato, Thursday announced his intention to seek the DFL Party endorsement for the District 19 state senate seat in a 10:30 a.m. press conference at the Mankato library. The district includes all of Nicollet County, with the chief population centers of St. Peter and North Mankato.
But District 19 also includes the city of Mankato, as well as Eagle Lake and a small portion of Le Sueur County, including Kasota. All are historically strong DFL areas, which mean the party’s endorsing convention in late February will likely launch the 2016 election favorite. Sheran, 68, was unopposed in 2012. . . .
After the press conference, Frentz said he had past conversations with Sheran, who has been supportive of his desire to seek political office. Frentz also noted he’s met with Reps. Johnson and Considine, as well as party officials.
He was introduced in the press conference by veteran Mankato lawyer Jerry Maschka of the Maschka, Riedy and Ries law firm. Maschka will serve as co-chair of the Frentz for Minnesota Senate Campaign Committee, along with Scott Grefe. With a campaign committee already in place and quick start out of the political gate with a Dec. 31 announcement, Frentz appeared ready to roll as the 2016 election season officially kicks off in January. . . .
Veteran Mankato Free Press political reporter Mark Fischenich writes in Frentz announces Democratic run for Senate:
. . . Frentz, speaking to the media and a sizable group of family and political supporters at the Blue Earth County Library, said his campaign — and his legislative service if he's elected — will focus on funding for transportation, strong support for education and economic policy focused on creation of good-paying jobs.
"I'm ready, excited and prepared to be that strong voice," he said.
Frentz, 52, became the first candidate to jump into the race since Sheran announced on Monday that she will retire at the conclusion of her current term, ending a 10-year career in the Senate.
Sheran and her predecessor, Sen. John Hottinger, have kept Mankato's Senate seat in Democratic hands for more than a quarter-century. The district also includes North Mankato, St. Peter, the remainder of Nicollet County, Eagle Lake, Kasota and several nearby townships.
Other candidates who have already said they are considering a Senate run are North Mankato City Councilman Kim Spears, a Republican who made an unsuccessful state House run in 2014, and Mankato City Councilwoman Karen Foreman, who sought the DFL endorsement for a state House seat ultimately won by Rep. Jack Considine, DFL-Mankato.
Frentz said he will be talking with likely DFL delegates and other party leaders in coming weeks but is still deciding if he will abide by the party's endorsement and drop from the race if they endorse another Democrat for the District 19 seat. That endorsement process will start in just two months with the March 1 precinct caucuses.
Frentz's head-start goes beyond Thursday's announcement. He already has a campaign committee that includes business leaders, DFL activists and the head of the local teachers union. . . .
Check out both papers' full coverage at the links.
Here's the video clip of KEYC-TV's coverage of the announcement, Longtime Attorney Announces Bid For Senate Seat:
Photo: Nick Frentz (right) and his family, via the campaign Facebook page.
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