Senate District 57 Republicans endorse candidates
Pat Hall, Anna Wills selected to run for Senate, House
The Senate District 57 Republicans endorsed Pat Hall for Senate and Anna Wills for House District 57B on Saturday.
Hall was endorsed on the first ballot over Tim Gould, and Wills was endorsed by acclamation on the first ballot during the convention that was continuation of the Republicans March 17 gathering when they postponed endorsement for the two offices.
Not long before the convention, Rep. Kurt Bills and Sen. Chris Gerlach announced they wouldn’t seek re-election to their seats.
“I am excited for the voters in Senate District 57 to get to know Pat,” Senate District 57 chair Pat Staley said in a release. “He is dynamic and engaging. He has extensive and diverse experience as a businessman, pastor, and community leader. He has a terrific understanding of the people of this community and the challenges and issues they face. He will prove a worthy successor to Senator Chris Gerlach.”
Gerlach announced he would not seek a fourth term in the Senate in March. He had previously served three terms in the House.
The convention also passed a resolution thanking, congratulating, and commending retiring Gerlach.
“Anna has proven herself to our delegates, and is eager to do the same to the voters of District 57B,” Staley said. “Her work as a legislative aide has given her a deep understanding of all the issues most important to people in Rosemount and Apple Valley.”
The Senate District 57A Republicans endorsed incumbent Rep. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley, on March 17.
During the March 17 DFL Senate District 57 convention in Rosemount, the party endorsed former Rosemount High School principal Greg Clausen for Senate, former DFL Senate District 37 chair Roberta Gibbons in 57A and Jeff Wilfahrt, the father of a U.S. Army soldier who was killed in action, in 57B.
