Paul Koering The race for many local and state offices in Minnesota is on, including State Senate and State Representative offices. Filing began May 18 and closes June 1, at 5 p.m.

As of May 25, two candidates (both Republican) have filed for District 12 Senate; and two have filed for House of Representatives District 12B. The DFL-endorsed candidate for District 12 Senate has not yet filed.

District 12

Senator Paul Koering, the Republican incumbent from District 12, filed May 21. Sen. Koering, Fort Ripley, has served the citizens of Morrison and Crow Wing counties since 2002, but did not receive his party’s endorsement this past March.

That endorsement went to Paul Gazelka of Brainerd, a former State Representative who currently works as an insurance agent.

Newcomer Taylor Stevenson, a senior at Dartmouth College and a Baxter resident, is the Democratendorsed candidate for District 12 Senate. He has not yet filed.

Paul Gazelka District 12B

Incumbent Al Doty, Royalton, filed May 18, for House of Representatives District 12B. The DFL-endorsed candidate, a former teacher, was first elected to office in 2006.

The Republican endorsed candidate for State Representative is Mike LeMieur of Little Falls. LeMieur, who filed May 24, is challenging Doty for the second time, having lost out to the DFLer by 76 votes in 2008.

The state primary election is August 10, 2010, moved up from September in response to helping members of the military vote more easily.

Senator Koering expressed some concern about the earlier primary election date.

“August is a busy time for people in Minnesota... there are a lot of county fairs scheduled and other summer events,” Koering said by phone May 24.

He hopes people will make it a priority to get out and vote, Koering said.
Taylor Stevenson
Al Doty
Mike LeMieur