St. Michael, Albertville Will Get New Representation in St. Paul

Hanover, St. Michael, Albertville and Otsego will create a new Minnesota House District race this fall, thanks to a decision handed down by the court panel put in charge of Minnesota State Legislative redistricting.

The new district, House District 30A, reflects the unprecedented growth over the last 10 years in northern Wright County, and pushes the Senate District for STMA, Otsego and Hanover north into the Elk River area, expanding west to Big Lake for Senate 30.

It will mean a departure from District 19A in the state house, and District 19 in the senate.

St. Michael's David Dayon, a member of both the planning and zoning commission and St. Michael Economic Development Authority, has already tossed his hat into the ring for the State House, telling GOPers at the Tuesday, Feb. 7 caucuses he would run if there was a new house district formed today.

"Things are definitely changing," Dayon told the crowd at St. Michael-Albertville Middle School East.

Dayon is a familiar face in St. Paul, where he lobbies the State Legislature on various topics pertinent to Wright County business. He has also represented the City of St. Michael for various projects, including the One-Way Pair.

The Senate race will be trickier, as St. Michael and Albertville are lumped with Elk River for the first time. No one would be an incumbent here, with current districts like 16, 48 and 19 moving away from Elk River and Otsego.

"I'd really, really like to keep St. Michael and Albertville if I could," said Rep. Joe McDonald, a Republican who has represented the area since the 2010 election. "But if that's not to be, we'll work to find the voters here a good candidate." 

Wright County will hold its local caucuses in March, with the GOP meeting in Buffalo March 10 and 11. The Wright County DFL will caucus in Delano on March 31.