Minnesota Lawyer

A 20-year-old student and a 63-year-old software developer will face off to replace Burnsville Republican Rep. Pam Myhra, who's stepping down to run for lieutenant governor.

The last remaining DFL-controlled legislative seat in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District might be up for grabs this fall, as a well-known former legislator from the Pawlenty era returns to challenge a freshman representative to represent St. Cloud.

One month ago, the story of who would run against DFL Rep. Ron Erhardt on the Republican side of the ticket looked like it would be a familiar one, in which the runner-up from the last cycle takes a second crack at it and the field is cleared for her. But the House District 49A GOP endorsement contest isn’t playing out that way.

When the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women selected the first recipient of its “Inspire” community ally award in 2013, Dave Pinto was a natural choice. “Domestic violence is a complicated issue, and one of the things Dave does exceptionally well is he understands the complexities and still moves forward with positive change,” said Liz Richards, the nonprofit’s executive director.

The last time folks on Duluth’s east side had an open seat to fill in the Minnesota House of Representatives, President George H.W. Bush was running for re-election, the sitcom “Cheers” was still on the air, and Duluth residents eligible to vote for the first time this fall had not yet been born.

In a race with many candidates but few expected policy differences, supporters of Matt Freeman’s House District 64B DFL candidacy are placing their faith in his door-to-door skills to set him apart from the crowd. “Few people have knocked on more doors in Highland Park and Mac-Groveland than Matt,” said Chris Tolbert, a St. Paul City Council member whose district neatly overlaps the legislative district and who endorsed Freeman and serves as his campaign co-chair.

Two candidates, Eric Margolis and Cheryl Youakim, are vying to replace Rep. Steve Simon — if he wins the DFL Party endorsement for secretary of state.

Kelly Fenton brought two distinct abilities to the table in Ted Lillie’s 2010 successful state senate campaign against incumbent DFLer Kathy Saltzman — a connection to the Woodbury community and the ability to craft a winning message, he said.

Greta Bergstrom’s campaign strategy to win the DFL endorsement for the House seat being vacated by Rep. Michael Paymar is simple, according to her campaign co-chair. “Get out in front and get people backing you right from the start,” St. Paul City Council member Amy Brendmoen said.

Like all Minnesota counties and cities, Kandiyohi has to put together its initial property tax levy by Sept. 15. The central Minnesota county’s board of commissioners will be voting soon on a 2.6 percent levy increase for next year.