House District 20B Gets Second GOP, Fifth Overall Candidate

Republican Brian Wermerskirchen has joined the race to represent House District 20B in the Minnesota Legislature.

Wermerskirchen, a Lonsdale resident, is the second Republican to come forward in as many days to represent the district.

He joins Wheatland Township resident Rita' Hillmann Olson, who announced on Wednesday. Olson is a former chair of the Rice County GOP.

Wermerskirchen is now the fifth candidate for the new House District 20B, which is . Three DFL candidates have stepped forward for their party's support for the House 20B race. They include former representative, , Northfield City Councilor , and former Montgomery mayor, .

With redistricting last month, Northfield moves from its current House District 25B to 20B. Rep. Kelby Woodard, a Republican from Belle Plaine who currently represents Northfield, is now part of District 20A.

Wermerskirchen currently works as a legislative assistant to Sen. Al DeKruif. Before working at the Capitol, Wermerskirchen worked in the private setor in technology and information sales, according to a press release sent to media on Thursday.

"I have had the opportunity to work with Sen. DeKruif, both on his campaign and in the Minnesota Senate, for the last two years to serve the citizens of Rice and Le Sueur counties," Wermerskirchen said in the release. "I want to continue to serve my neighbors as their voice in the Minnesota House of Representatives. I will dedicate myself to doing what is best for District 20B, and the state of Minnesota."

District 20B includes Rice County's Bridgewater Township, Dennison, Dundas, Erin Township, Forest Township, Lonsdale, Northfield, Northfield Township, Shieldsville Township, Webster Township and Wheatland Township, as well as Le Sueur County's Cordova Township, Heidelberg, Kilkenny, Kilkenny Township, Lanesburgh Township, Montgomery, Montgomery Township.

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