MONTICELLO - The DFL endorsed Sartell Mayor Joe Perske for the 6th Congressional District race this fall during a convention in Monticello on Saturday.

Perske beat out the other two Democrats, Saint John's professor Jim Read and Judy Adams of Circle Pines.

Perske says the support he had at the convention was overwhelming.

Perske first announced his plans to run for congress in early January. He says numerous people told him he should run, including 2012 DFL candidate Jim Graves.

The 6th District could prove to be a tough battle for Perske. The heavily conservative district hasn't elected a Democrat to the seat since Bill Luther (1995-2003). Perske says he plans to run as a "common man" and looks to network and use a large group of support to his advantage.

Perske adds that he believes congress is broken and needs to be fixed so that it works for the people again.

Perske was a member of the Sartell City Council for six years before being elected as Mayor three years ago. He has also taught and coached in the Sartell-St. Stephen school district for the past 25 years.

There’s also three remaining candidates on the Republican side: former Gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer of Delano, the head of the “Taxpayers League” Phil Krinkie, and Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah.

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