Al Franken hires Juhnke to handle ag, energy, environmental outreach

• Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn.
• Al Juhnke

Al Juhnke, aide to Sen. Al Franken and former Democratic Minnesota state Representative

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Seven-term veteran state Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, will go to work for U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn.

Juhnke, defeated by Republican Bruce Vogel last November, will handle Franken’s agriculture, energy and environmental outreach duties. He will be stationed in Willmar, but travel the state for Franken.

“Al Juhnke understands how important agriculture, energy, and the environment are to creating jobs and spurring economic development in Minnesota,” Franken said. “He has spent years working closely with key Minnesota groups, stakeholders and communities on these issues and knows how important they are to our state’s economy and its future. We’re all lucky to have him back in a role where he’s serving the people of Minnesota.”

At the end of his legislative tenure, Juhnke was the House agriculture committee’s chairman.

Since losing re-election, Juhnke has remained in the public eye, producing a news summary of greater Minnesota issues.

Tags: mn politics, al franken, al juhnke, updates, news