Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

District 3A special election set for Dec. 8

Primary will be held Sept. 29; at least four candidates seeking David Dill’s seat

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 8/26/15

REGIONAL— Gov. Mark Dayton has called a special election for Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, to elect a replacement for state Rep. David Dill, who died earlier this month after a short battle with …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

District 3A special election set for Dec. 8

Primary will be held Sept. 29; at least four candidates seeking David Dill’s seat

Posted

REGIONAL— Gov. Mark Dayton has called a special election for Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, to elect a replacement for state Rep. David Dill, who died earlier this month after a short battle with cancer.

Candidates wishing to file in the race have until 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31 to do so with their county auditor.

With three announced DFLers already in the race, the governor’s action calls for a Tuesday, Sept. 29 primary, during which the top vote-getter would receive the party nomination. Various DFL party units, at both the county and district levels, may choose to offer candidate endorsements ahead of the primary. Third District party chair Paul Fish said he expects to call an endorsing convention after filings close next Monday.

The race is likely to attract more candidates, possibly including International Falls Mayor Bob Anderson, who told the Timberjay this week that he’s considering entering the race, most likely as a DFLer. “I’m certainly considering it, said Anderson, now in his third year as mayor, a position he held previously but resigned when he became a corporate spokesman for Boise. “I feel with my background and experience, I could represent the district well,” he added.

On the Republican side, Eric Johnson, the International Falls business owner who challenged Dill in 2014 said he’s planning to enter the race. “I’m going to prepare an announcement later in the week,” he said. Johnson predicted that there would be no primary for the Republican nomination. (Editor's note: In a surprise move, Johnson filed as a DFLer after the Timberjay's Wednesday presstime)

The Timberjay will have more on all the candidates next week, once the filings have closed.