Ochsner wins endorsement

Dan "Ox" Ochsner, radio talk show host of Hot Talk with the OX won the GOP endorsement for the Special Election coming up. The Special Election is for Senate District 15 and is necessary because of the recent victory of Dave Kleis for Mayor of St Cloud (election results NOT found here...at the Secretary of State's website because they don't feel it is necessary.)

About the endorsement convention this past Saturday:

Republicans on Saturday endorsed radio talk show host Dan Ox Ochsner over St. Cloud State University professor Jeff Johnson.

The same day, DFLers endorsed Tarryl Clark, a lawyer, nonprofit executive director, St. Cloud Housing and Redevelopment Authority board member and former associate chairwoman of the DFL Party. She ran unopposed.

The special election will be Clarks third attempt to win the Senate seat and Ochsners first run for office.

Endorsing Ochsner on Saturday was Kleis, who held the seat for Republicans for 11 years, and Sue Ek, the Republican-endorsed candidate for an open House 15B seat in the coming special election. Sen. Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynesville, and Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life PAC also endorsed Ochsner.

We could lose this seat to Tarryl Clark and those meddling Democrats if were not careful, Ochsner said. We dont have time to introduce someone new and still beat the Democrats.

Ochsner capitalized on his endorsements and recognition to win on the first ballot, receiving votes from 39 of the 56 delegates at the endorsement convention.

When is that special election? Per the Governor's Writ issued on Monday it will be on December 27, 2005 (which is the day the ever entertaining Trans-Siberian Orchestra will make their stop in Minneapolis--so that is where I will be).

Governor Tim Pawlenty has called special elections to fill the Senate vacancy in District 15 and the House vacancy in District 15B. The vacancies were created by the resignations of Senator Dave Kleis (SD 15) and Representative Joe Opatz (HD 15B).

Senator Kleis, of St. Cloud, was elected Mayor of St. Cloud on November 8. Representative Opatz, of St. Cloud, has been named interim president of Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

The writ of special election issued by the Governor sets the special election for Tuesday, December 27, 2005. If a special primary election is necessary, it will be Tuesday, December 13, 2005.

Anyone interested in running in SD 15 or HD 15B may file affidavits and petitions of candidacy with the Secretary of State from 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 28, 2005, until 5:00 p.m., Thursday, December 1, 2005.

Kleis represented District 15, which includes St. Cloud, from 1995-2005. Opatz represented District 15B, which includes St. Cloud, from 1993-2005.

Good luck, Ox! The State Senate desperately needs someone like you.