Ex-Minge aide to run for Congress

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--Aaron Peterson, former assistant to DFL Congressmen David Minge and James Oberstar, announced his plans to seek the DFL nomination for the Second District Congressional seat now held by Republican Mark Kennedy Friday morning in St. Paul.

Less than five hours later he was in New Ulm talking with The Journal about his differences with Kennedy's positions in Washington. The irony is that neither nor Kennedy know how the district will fare in the redistricting that is now occurring.

They should know in about three weeks unless there is a deadlock and the redistricting issue becomes a matter for the courts to resolve.

"Living in Montevideo, I don't think I have too much to be concerned about, but Mark might have to move to stay within the district," Peterson said. Kennedy calls Watertown home.

"As of March 1, I'm the only announced DFL candidate running for the Second District Congressional seat," Peterson said. "However, without a redistricting plan in place, those attending precinct caucuses won't know for sure if I'm their candidate or not."

Peterson, 31, comes by his political inclinations genetically. His father, Doug Peterson of Madison, is a DFL state representative, serving his sixth term after having been first elected in 1990. His grandfather served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1964-1974.

Peterson believes working for Minge and Oberstar was "excellent preparation" for his serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

While working for Minge, he aided in the formulation and introduction of the Conservation Security Act, designed to improve conservation practices and increase on-farm income, with the House Agriculture Committee and Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa.

Working with Oberstar, Peterson focused on steel trade anti-dumping and labor policies to protect steelworker jobs, as well as to improve economic development on the Iron Range.

"I'm running because the values I believe in no longer have their own voice in the United States Congress," Peterson said. "I believe I would be a better representative for a larger majority of the congressional district, not just the farm and not completely from the suburbs."

Peterson was born in Glencoe and raised on his family's 300-acre farm near Madison. He was graduated from Madison High School in 1989 and has a bachelor's degree in geology and watershed science from Colorado State University.

"Our current representative is out of touch and has turned a blind-eye to our family farms, small businesses, rural communities, and senior citizens," Peterson explained. "I will not allow southwestern Minnesota to be left behind. We need to increase farm prices, protect Social Security and Medicare, strengthen small business opportunities, improve transportation and technology, and invest in public education while providing affordable health care and prescription drugs."

While he supports improved transportation for rural Minnesota, Peterson said he has not studied the issues surrounding the proposed four-lane expansion of U.S. Highway 14 from Rochester to New Ulm enough to take a position on the issue.

In seeking the DFL party endorsement, Peterson said he would abide by the party's decision.

As for next Tuesday's caucuses, "I'm going to be on the phone a lot that night."