Candidates for state offices set

WORTHINGTON — The Democratic-Farmer-Labor party and the Republican party both endorsed candidates for state offices Saturday.

The DFL endorsed Kevin Vickerman, who lives north of Currie, as its District 22 Senate candidate, and Bill Brandt of Sioux Valley Township, Jackson County, as its District 22B Representative candidate. The party has not made an endorsement in the District 22A Representative race yet.

The Republicans endorsed Keith Forshey of Hills as their candidate in the District 22A race. The party already had endorsed Doug Magnus as its District 22 Senate candidate and incumbent Rod Hamilton as its District 22B Representative candidate.

DFL endorses Vickerman for District 22 Senate

Kevin Vickerman was endorsed to run for the Senate in the District 22 seat his uncle, Jim Vickerman, has long held.

“With a multi-billion dollar deficit, we need some innovative thinking to change the way the government works,” the younger Vickerman said. “I have done this as a Murray County commissioner and will continue to do the same as a senator.”

Vickerman graduated from Tracy High School in 1981 and attended South Dakota State University in Brookings for two years before returning home to help save the family farm during the 1980s farm crisis. He still farms the family land north of Currie, and was elected county commissioner in 2004 and re-elected in 2008.

“Health and education are big-budget items and just cutting spending in these areas is gutting these programs. That’s why we need bipartisanship to solve these problems and put Minnesota back on track, like it once was,” Vickerman said, adding he was “appalled” at how the education system has been taken care of.

“I don’t believe they are looking out for the best interest of Minnesota and furthering our youth,” Vickerman said.

He has also looked at changing the way human services work to increase standards and accountability rather than mandates.

DFL endorses Brandt for 22B Representative

Brandt was endorsed by the DFL to run for the State Representative position for District 22B, the seat currently held by Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake).

“I would like to lead the way so Minnesota can have a better day. Society ought to care about each other and communicate with each other, and then they should compromise among each other,” Brandt said. “And the stalemate at the Capitol has gone on way too long and the citizens of House District 22B deserve better.’

Brandt graduated from Sioux Valley High School in 1972 and received a bachelor’s degree in music education degree from Mankato State College in 1976. He taught music in the Butterfield-Odin school district for seven years and is now a farmer.

Brandt also owns a small business, Brandt’s Garden and Greenhouse, and has a strong interest in transitioning some of his land into organics and high-tunnel production — using electricity-free greenhouses to extend the growing season.

“Agriculture needs help, I feel, and education,” Brandt said, adding that he is interested in many legislative issues. “And as the campaign goes on, being new to the arena, I’m learning, I’m listening to people. The state has a lot of problems … a lot of citizens have the same financial problems as well.”

Republicans endorse Forshey for District 22A Representative

Forshey was endorsed by the Republican party for the District 22A seat currently held by Doug Magnus, who will instead run for the District 22 Senate position vacated by Vickerman.

“The most important issues to me are jobs and our economy,” Forshey said. “Right now, I believe if we can create more jobs and keep businesses here in Minnesota our economy is going to turn itself around.”

Forshey graduated from Howard High School, S.D., in 1996, and attended Minnesota West Community and Technical College for his firefighter training, which he completed in 2002. He owned a wedding and event planning business as well as an auto detailing business, but has retired from both in order to commit to the Representative race full-time.

“This is a passion of mine and I really want to make a difference,” said Forshey. “I don’t (have previous experience in politics) and that’s kind of what I’ve centered my campaign around. I’m just an average citizen. I have concerns on where we’re heading and I want to make a difference.”

Forshey is a member of the volunteer fire department in Hills, and decided to run for state office after speaking with others about the issues the fire department faced, such as reductions in its training budget. He was encouraged to run for local office but decided he could address more issues at the state level.

Tags: state and region, district 22, news, political, minnesota, legislature, vickerman, brandt, forshey