Another candidate has thrown his hat in the ring for the District 1 Senate seat in Minnesota.
Roger Schmitz of rural Newfolden announced his intention to seek the Republican endorsement to run for the seat Tuesday. District 1 includes the state's northwestern counties of Polk, Kittson, Red Lake, Pennington, Marshall and Roseau.
"We have gotten away from real conservative values in Minnesota," he said.
Schmitz had sought the District 1 seat in 2006 and 2010. He won the party endorsement in 2010 before losing the primary.
Schmitz and his wife, LaVonne, are pastors at Eagles View Church in Thief River Falls, according to a news release. They also own the Big Red Barn Greenhouse and Garden in Newfolden.
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Crookston Mayor Gary Willhite and Roseau resident Sue Grafstrom are also seeking the Republican endorsement for District 1. Longtime Democratic-Farmer-Labor Sen. LeRoy Stumpf announced in February he would not seek re-election.
