GOP endorses Gutknecht,

Andreasen

gets DFL nod

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Brown County Republicans and DFLers took part in district conventions Saturday, and the results were not surprising for the most part.

First, the Republicans.

Incumbent GOP 1st District Congressman Gil Gutknecht, seeking his fifth term, received an unanimous endorsement at Albert Lea High School.

Gutknecht said the election is about husbands, wives, children and our children's children.

"We've accomplished a lot since I was re-elected two years ago," Gutknecht said. "We passed historic tax relief that put money back into the pockets of hard-working Minnesota families. We passed a farm bill that will provide more security in times of adverse markets. The House passed my amendment that would dramatically lower the price of prescription drugs. And, in the face of unimaginable evil, we came together to fight terrorists all over the globe."

Gutknecht, a member of the House Budget, Agriculture and Science and Technology committees, said he will continue to be available for anything from town hall meetings or talk radio.

Gubernatorial hopeful House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty edged Orono businessman Brian Sullivan, 149-130 in a straw poll for governor. The race will be decided at the state GOP convention June 14. Both said they will abide by the endorsement vote.

Brown County GOP Chairman Gerald Woodley of New Ulm said the newly created district now has its geographical center in Albert Lea.

Woodley was surprised to learn that Mike Darling of Rush City announced a challenge to former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman for the U.S. Senate endorsement.

DFL

Steve Andreasen of Rochester got the DFL congressional endorsement with two-thirds of the vote on the first ballot at John Marshall High School in Rochester.

A former national security aide in the Clinton, Bush and Reagan administrations, Andreasen, who is writing a book on nuclear weapons, arms control and missile defense and has never held a political office, said the new 1st District needs a more independent voice in Congress.

Democrats listened to gubernatorial candidates Roger Moe, Judi Dutcher and Becky Lourey; Attorney General Mike Hatch, Secretary of State candidate "Buck" Humphrey and state auditor hopefuls Victoria Reinhardt and Mark Gleason.