Erhardt Gets Nod from Strib in House District 49A

Ron Erhardt—who previously represented Edina at the Capitol as a Republican and is now running as a DFL candidate—has been endorsed by the Star Tribune for House District 49A.

The Strib touches on the reasoning behind Erhardt's party change—the GOP dumped him in favor of Keith Downey back in 2008—but notes that he retains the "same outspoken voice for personal freedom, fiscal prudence and stewardship of Minnesota assets" that first carried him to the House of Representatives more than two decades ago.

"He's stubborn, not as much for his own sake as for Minnesota's," the editorial reads. "That's a stubbornness that District 49A voters should reward. Erhardt's nine terms of seniority, his impressive record as a bipartisan dealmaker, his financial acumen acquired as a professional financial planner, and the fact that he is the most youthful 83-year-old we know are added factors in his favor."

The endorsement makes mention of Erhardt's GOP opponent, Bill Glahn, who they say "extols the virtues of market forces and local control in achieving state goals." In pointing out how Glahn and Erhardt differ on Erhardt's bipartisan 2008 transportation funding bill—which then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed—the Strib says voters have a clear picture of who the two candidates are.

"Though that's just one issue, it nicely distills their differing ideas about state governance," the Editorial Board wrote. "Voters should return Erhardt to the House."

Read the full endorsement for yourself here. Learn more about Edina's local races by consulting our 2012 Election Guide.

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