Campaign 2008

Printing CEO enters race for the 3rd District

by Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio

Minneapolis — The CEO of a Twin Cities printing company says he's running for Congress in Minnesota's 3rd District as an independent.

David Dillon of Excelsior, Minn., announced Wednesday that he will seek the endorsement of the Independence Party of Minnesota to run for the seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad.

Dillon says he supports gay marriage and all forms of stem cell research. He's against large government and wants to streamline the federal tax code. Dillon is also against budget earmarking.

"The Congress should set priorities, set budgets, say how they want to monitor whether or not the results are good. And then there are others who are paid to do the work of where to spend the money, how to spend the money," says Dillon. "There's the transportation department. They have professionals who study such things. There can be mechanisms put in place to decide how they get built. Otherwise it's just one giant grab fest."

Dillon joins an already crowded field in the 3rd District. State Sen. Terri Bonoff, Edina Mayor Jim Hovland and Iraq veteran Ashwin Madia are seeking the the DFL endorsement.

State Rep. Erik Paulsen is the lone Republican candidate.