2012 Edina, Bloomington GOP Candidates Finalized

Nearly two months after its annual convention, the Republican delegates of Senate District 49 have officially endorsed candidates for this fall's elections.

Republicans from Edina, Bloomington, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie met Thursday, May 10, at Jefferson High School to formally endorse candidates for three local legislative races.

Perhaps the least surprising of the endorsements was Keith Downey—who is wrapping up his second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives—being endorsed as the Republican candidate for State Senate District 49. He was unopposed for the nomination to fill the seat vacated by Geoff Michel's retirement.

Downey will face off against DFL candidate and Target attorney Melisa Lopez Franzen for the senate seat. Franzen was endorsed in late March by the local DFL party.

As for the district's two House seats, Bill Glahn was endorsed for House District 49A and Terry Jacobson for 49B.

Glahn was recently elected to the SD49 Executive Comittee and served as Director of the Minnesota Office of Energy Security and Deputy Commissioner in the state's Department of Commerce under former Gov. Tim Pawlenty from 2008 to 2011. Since leaving state government, Glahn has been active in his own management consulting practice.

He is a member of Edina's Energy Working Group and coaches girls soccer through the Edina Soccer Association. Glahn will battle with DFL nominee Ron Erhardt for Downey's former seat. Prior to Downey's 2008 election victory, Erhardt had represented Edina dating back to 1990.

Terry Jacobson is math teacher and tutor who also works as a financial consultant with Focus Financial in Bloomington. Jacobson has served as a delegate or alternate in Bloomington since 2000, has volunteered since 2000 with state and national Republican candidates and has also been an election judge.

Jacobson is running on a business-friendly platform, saying she wants to attract and retain good companies in Minnesota. She also promotes reforms in the education system and supports making state government "more efficient and responsible," according to campaign literature.

She will be running against DFL candidate Paul Rosenthal for House District 49B. Rosenthal is no stranger to the Capitol, having been elected as House District 41B's representative in 2008. He was defeated by Pat Mazorol in 2010. 

Senate District 49 Republican leadership said their candidates will be running on a platform to "grow the Minnesota economy, boost job creation and promote individual responsibility and freedom for Minnesota citizens."

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