Ganey Announces DFL Run for Minnesota House

Northfield City Councilor Patrick Ganey has announced he will seek the DFL nomination to represent Northfield in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

In a press release emailed Tuesday morning, Ganey, a first-term councilor, says, “Many of the issues that affect our lives as Northfield and Minnesota residents are a result of decisions made in St. Paul. Local sales tax, regional transportation, public education, agriculture and a healthy environment are just a few examples of state issues that connect our community to broader state issues.  Residents in Northfield and the surrounding area will benefit from a representative who will listen to local concerns and advocate for policies that strengthen our community and state.”

Ganey is the second DFLer to announce his candidacy for the House within the past week. Former state lawmaker David Bly confirmed his on Feb. 3.

Bly served two terms as representative for House District 25B before losing his seat to Republican of Belle Plaine by in 2010.

Whether the winner of the DFL nomination would face Woodard in a District 25B rematch in November or seek election in another district will be determined when the state’s legislative redistricting map is released later this month.

In addition to serving on the City Council, Ganey is a development officer for the Division of External Relations at . He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand, then worked as for the Peace Corps as a  recruiter and public affairs specialist in the upper Midwest.

“I currently serve on the Northfield City Council and have brought to that position the skills and willingness to listen, deliberate, compromise, and make decisions that positively affect our community,” Ganey says in Tuesday’s press release. “These qualities are needed at all levels of our government and I believe I can work effectively in the Minnesota House of Representatives. "

REDISTRICTING

As it stands now, District 25B is made up of all but one precinct of Northfield, as well as Dundas, Nerstrand, Belle Plaine, Bridgewater, Cedar Lake Erin, Forest, Helena, Lonsdale, Nerstrand, Northfield, Shieldsville, Webster, Wheatland and Wheeling.

Northfield’s most northerly precinct is in House District 36B.

Because of legislative redistricting prompted by the 2010 Census, Northfield could remain in a reconfigured 25B, or be placed elsewhere.

For instance, in a by House Republicans, nearly all of Northfield would be in a new House District 22A, that also would include the east half of Faribault, Kenyon and communities south to the Steele County border.

Northfield's precinct in 36B would move to a new District 54B.

Under that plan, Patti Fritz, the DFL representative for 26B, which includes Faribault, would become the incumbent for the proposed District 22A.