Minnesota Lawyer
Rep. Jason Isaacson, DFL-Shoreview, was the only freshman named to a House DFL leadership position.
Michelle Manke, a Republican from Roseville, made an official announcement of her candidacy in House District 42B in a statement released last night. Manke is looking to challenge freshman Rep. Jason Isaacson, DFL-Shoreview, whose first reelection test will come in 2014.
In her announcement, Manke drew attention to a lifetime of experience in Roseville, saying she understood the district’s outlook and would work to serve its best interests.
“People throughout our suburban community have become increasingly concerned over wasteful spending that is needlessly increasing our tax burden,” she said.
Manke’s release focuses on government spending and financial topics, and makes no mention of social issues. She also points to her experience as a small-business owner. Manke runs a visual communications firm, Manke Studio, and has done headshots and political messaging design work for a number of Republican political candidates, including 4th Congressional District candidate Tony Hernandez, who ran and lost against incumbent DFL U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum.
Isaacson won election handily last year, collecting more than 57 percent of the district vote to defeat Republican Ken Rubenzer. Prior to Isaascson’s election, the seat was held by now-Sen. Bev Scalze, DFL-Little Canada, who served four terms in the House before moving to the upper chamber last year.
Isaacson, a Communications educator at Century College and doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota, has been involved in DFL politics for more than a decade, and cut his teeth in politics working as an organizer with Ken Martin, now the chair of the Minnesota DFL Party. This past session, Isaacson was made an assistant majority leader by the House DFL caucus, and was the only freshman representative to carry that distinction.
