Al Doty of Royalton, who served two terms in the Minnesota House, announced last weekend he is a candidate for the DFL endorsement for the new Senate District 9, which includes parts of Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties.

There currently is no incumbent senator within the newly drawn lines that were handed down this winter by a judicial panel after the 2010 census.

Announcing earlier for the Republican endorsement for the seat was Rep. Paul Gazelka, R-Baxter, who said he plans to move a few miles across the border and establish residency in the new district.

Doty was elected to the Legislature in 2006 and served two terms, representing House District 12B. He was defeated in 2010 by Rep. Mike LeMieur, R-Little Falls.

The former lawmaker declined to be interviewed for this story and referred a reporter to his news release.

Doty, 66, who currently serves on the Royalton City Council, said in a statement that he has the education, training, experience and relationships to do the job. The former teacher, coach and senior advocate currently serves on the Camp Ripley Citizens Advisory Board and the board of directors of the Pine Grove Zoo.

“Our Legislature needs to work on long-term solutions for difficult issues, especially those affecting rural areas and middle class working families,” he said in a statement. “We cannot continue to push these problems down the road.”

Doty and his wife, Donna, live in Royalton. He grew up on the family grain and beef farm, graduated from high school in Campbell and attended the University of Minnesota-Morris, where he majored in political science, history and social studies.

He later earned a graduate degree at the University of Manitoba. After retiring from teaching, Doty was hired by Horizon Health as a senior advocate, serving Morrison and Crow Wing counties.