Pawlenty sets Aug. 7 special election for Sviggum’s seat

06/28/2007

Associated Press
June 28, 2007


Voters in southeastern Minnesota's House District 28B will pick their first new representative in 29 years on Aug. 7.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty called a special election Thursday to fill the seat being vacated by Rep. Steve Sviggum, the Kenyon Republican first elected from the district in 1978. Sviggum was House speaker for eight years until the Democrats regained control of the House last year.

Pawlenty named Sviggum to a cabinet post on Wednesday; he will become commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry on July 17.

Three candidates have already declared their intentions to run for the seat — Republicans Jennifer Berquam of Wanamingo and Steve Drazkowski of Wabasha, as well as Democrat Jeffrey Flaten of Kenyon, who unsuccessfully challenged Sviggum twice.

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