Area legislative races drawing interest

It may be early and the state may face a massive budget shortfall, but there's no shortage of people interested in running for the Legislature.

The potential candidates include a new face - Zachariah Jackson, 27, of rural Brainerd, who has filed his campaign committee with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board. Jackson, a Republican, is considering a run for the House District 12A seat currently held by Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd. Last year's Republican House District 12A candidate, David A. Pundt, has not announced whether he'll seek the endorsement again.

Jackson, a 2000 Brainerd High School graduate who is a native of rural Brainerd, is a commercial pilot. He said the people of America need new blood and new representation. This would be Jackson's first bid for elective office.

"I've not formally announced yet, however I'm very serious," he said.

Former Crow Wing County Republican Chair and former Rep. Dale Walz is chair of Jackson's committee.

Pundt could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Ward said he's in the process of deciding whether he'll run for another term. He said there is unfinished business to accomplish.

Those who have already announced their candidacies, either officially or unofficially, include Republicans Paul Gazelka of rural Brainerd, Senate District 12; and Sen. Paul Koering of Fort Ripley, Senate District 12; as well as Democrat Terry Sluss, Senate District 12.

The Koering and Gazelka campaigns mean that Republicans at the District 12 Senate endorsing convention will have to choose between the two-term incumbent and the former House District 12A representative. Gazelka said he would support the endorsement process and would not run in the primary if he failed to win the endorsement. Koering said he would run in the primary if he failed to win the endorsement.

Also considering a run for the District 12 Senate seat is Tay Stevenson, 21, a student at Dartmouth University. If he decides to run he would challenge the 2006 DFL candidate for the seat, Sluss, a former Crow Wing County commissioner.

Stevenson, a DFLer, has also filed his campaign committee. He said he would probably make a decision on the race in December and announce his intent in January. He said he would abide by the decision of the endorsing convention.

Another possible candidate is Jessica Ringwelski who was defeated by Sluss at the 2006 endorsing convention. Ringwelski said this fall she was concentrating on finding a teaching job and was not sure whether she would run for the Legislature again.

In Senate District 4, first-term Sen. Mary Olson, DFL-Bemidji, will face a challenger in her party if she runs for re-election. Gregory W. Paquin, 47, of Bemidji, announced in August he would seek the DFL endorsement for that post. He said he would consider running in a primary if he failed to win the endorsement.

Olson said she is currently weighing the decision of whether to run for another term. She said she'll have to discuss it with her supporters. She said she's not sure when she'll make an announcement but she hopes to reach a decision before the next legislative session begins.

MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.