Grandson Of Fleet Farm Founder Eyes Congress Bid

ST. PAUL,  (AP) - A Brainerd businessman with a familiar family name is pushing ahead with a bid for Congress as a Republican in the recently competitive 8th District in northern Minnesota.

Stewart Mills III, grandson of the founder of Mills Fleet Farm chain of stores, planned to file paperwork Wednesday to raise money toward a challenge to Democratic Rep. Rick Nolan. He set two events in the district to lay out his campaign, including one at the site of a new store in the retail chain.

Mills has been eyeing a campaign for months. He has been particularly vocal about gun rights issues as Congress was weighing new firearms restrictions.

The 41-year-old is currently a Fleet Farm vice president.

Nolan beat a GOP incumbent to return to Congress after previously serving from 1975 to 1981.