No surprises among 6A entries

Filings for state office closed last week and all of the announced candidates in the hotly-contested Minnesota House 6A race have formally entered the race.Incumbent David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake) faces a primary challenge from party-endorsed Bill Hansen of Tofte.The winner of the Sept. 14 primary moves on to face Republican Marty Breaker of Ely.All three candidates have officially joined the contest by filing with the Minnesota Secretary of State.Dill is seeking his second term in office after winning the race to succeed Tom Bakk, who was elected to the State Senate, in 2002. Dill won a four-way primary that included Hansen and then beat Republican Tom Porter and Independence Party candidate Roger Skraba of Ely in the general election.In his first term, Dill has been an advocate for economic development in the region and has championed recreational interests.Dill has also authored legislation aimed at reversing state cuts to local governments.Earlier this year, Dill has come under fire from some in his own party, many of whom support the efforts of Hansen, who finished second in the 2002 primary.Dill was accused of several campaign finance law violations in a multi-point complaint filed by several party leaders, including Hansen’s campaign manager. In May, the state’s campaign finance board found that Dill unintentionally violated the law and exceeded state spending limits on the 2002 campaign.Dill also faced allegations of impropriety stemming from his involvement with a regional snowmobile club and its receipt of state grant monies. The state auditor cleared Dill of wrongdoing but knocked the city of Orr, where Dill worked as city administrator, for sloppy recordkeeping, lax financial oversight of grant funds, and various legal compliance issues.Hansen, a canoe outfitter and longtime DFL activist, is trying to unseat Dill this fall.Delegates attending the DFL district convention in April overwhelmingly backed Hansen 190-32 for the endorsement.Hansen is the town treasurer in Tofte, a board member and secretary of the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund and former chair of the Tofte Tourism Association. He has also been involved in various wilderness organizations, including Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness, and was participant in the 1996 BWCAW mediation effort.Joining them in the race is Breaker, who has the backing of district Republicans and is looking to break the tight DFL grip on area legislative seats.Breaker owned and operated two resorts in the Ely area and currently teaches business courses at Vermilion Community College.Breaker has been prepped for the run by the House Republican caucus, including Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon), and he has pledged to make jobs, health care and education the focus of his efforts if elected.