RED WING — Buoyed by endorsements from the party and retiring Sen. Steve Murphy, Joe Fricke scored a sizable victory over his DFL challenger in Tuesday's primary.
Fricke, of Red Wing, defeated Lewiston-Altura school Superintendent Bruce Montplaisir in the Senate District 28 DFL primary. The recent law school graduate will take on Republican-endorsed candidate John Howe in November. Howe is mayor of Red Wing.
Fricke, 28, said he was pleased by the strong support he got from DFL voters. The political newcomer said he will rely on door-knocking and one-on-one conversations to win over voters.
"I would like to convince people that I am someone that they can relate to and someone they can really trust to represent their interests," he said.
Fricke has said he will emphasize the need to solve the state's $6 billion deficit, which he has said will involve new revenue along with spending cuts. He will also emphasize his commitment to funding education and health care programs.
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Montplaisir said he never expected to win the primary but wanted to discuss statewide issues that concerned him. He emphasized the need to solve the state's long-term fiscal problems.
"I just wanted to make sure that people are aware that there is actually a process for dealing with budgets so you don't have to go into deficit spending," he said.
Howe said he is confident his fiscally conservative message will win over voters.
"The voters this fall are going to have a clear choice," he said." I think Fricke wants more spending, higher taxes and bigger government, and I am certainly for reduced spending and less government."
