Former 7th District Rep. Stangeland dies

Former U.S. Rep. Arlan Stangeland died Tuesday at the age of 83.

Stangeland held the 7th Congressional District in northwest Minnesota in the GOP column from 1977 until 1991. He won a special election in 1977 when Democratic Rep. Bob Bergland resigned to become Secretary of Agriculture in the Carter Administration. Stangeland was re-elected to six full terms in Congress.

He was a Red River Valley farmer and much of his congressional work focused on agricultural issues.

During the 1990 campaign Stangeland faced allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a female lobbyist in Washington. He denied the allegations but lost the election to Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson, who still represents the 7th District.

After losing the election, Stangeland worked as a lobbyist in Washington D.C. and then retired to Minnesota.

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