DFL endorses two for 21A, 21B races

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

WABASSO -- Senate District 21 DFL Party convention delegates endorsed Saturday a rural New Ulm man and a Marshall woman to run in the general election for the district's two House seats.

Joe Eckstein, 39, will face incumbent Republican Brad Finstad of New Ulm in the race for the House District 21B seat, covering all of Brown County and parts of Redwood and Watonwan counties.

Pat Mellenthin will be going against incumbent Republican Marty Seifert of Marshall in House District 21A which covers all of Lyon County and part of Redwood County.

Eckstein, whose uncle, Tony Eckstein, served in the state House of Representatives in the '70s, is making his first run for public office.

A graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato, Eckstein was born and raised in the New Ulm area and returned to live in rural New Ulm four years ago.

For Mellenthin, it will be a return matchup as she ran against Seifert in 1996 when Seifert was elected to the first of four terms he has served in the House.

Mellenthin and her husband own a farm in Lyon County, as well as a motel business in Marshall. She is a graduate of Southwest State University at Marshall, and a life-long resident of Lyon County.

Mellenthin promised endorsing delegates that she would run an "issues-oriented" campaign.