Tomorrow (Aug. 1) is the date candidates can start legally posting signs on private property in Eden Prairie (with the owner’s permission) in preparation for the upcoming elections.
Too early to start thinking about the election? Not really. Absentee voting starts for the primary on Aug. 8. You can vote absentee at City Center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, as well as 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.
The Primary Election is on Sept. 9.
Eden Prairie City Clerk Kathleen Porta said that in 2004, Eden Prairie had a 5.86 percent turnout for the primary and 85 percent turnout for the general election; in 2006, Eden Prairie had an 8 percent turnout for the primary and 66 percent in the general election.
Those numbers are the percentage of registered voters who voted, including those who registered on Election Day.
This year, they’re expecting even more.
On the primary ballot will be the U.S. Senate candidates; U.S. Representative in District 3 (Independence Party primary with David Dillon facing Steev Ramsdell); state representative in District 42A (for the northern portion of Eden Prairie) where Daniel Kim and Rep. Maria Ruud are facing off in the DFL; Hennepin County Commission district 5 (for the southern part of the city), where Randy Johnson is facing challengers Carlan Lesch and David Nyberg to narrow the field to two; and three judicial seats.
Michelle DesJardin, Hennepin County’s elections manager, agreed that high turnout is expected for the primary and general election.
“I believe we will have a record number of first-time voters coming out for this election,” Porta said.
The city has posted extensive election information at www.edenprairie.org and also plans to have a link to sample ballots online. Click on “2008 Election Information.”
– Compiled by Karla Wennerstrom

Candidates for U.S., state representative
The following candidates have filed for U.S. representative in District 3, and state representative offices in Eden Prairie.

Running for U.S. representative in District 3:
David Dillon
Independence
Background: Dillon was born in Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota, where he studied chemistry and economics. He earned a degree in business. After graduation, he joined his family’s company. He also invented a technology that protects pharmaceutical companies from counterfeiting.
Top issues: Deficit and debt reduction, health care and social security

Ashwin Madia
DFL
Background: Madia was born in Boston and later moved to Minnesota during his high school years. He attended the University of Minnesota and New York University Law School. Madia enlisted as a Marine after college and served in Japan and Iraq. He now works for a Minneapolis law firm.
Top issues: Ending the Iraq war, economy, energy

Erik Paulsen
Republican
Background: Paulsen grew up in Chanhassen and attended St. Olaf College. He was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1994, serving Edina and Eden Prairie. He continues to hold this office today. Paulsen is also a business analyst for Target Corp.
Top issues: Economy, lower taxes, jobs

Steev Ramsdell
Independence
Background: Ramsdell moved to Minnesota from Florida in 2005. He attended both the University of Tampa and the University of Miami and graduated with a degree in Politics and Public Affairs with a minor in business. He owns PowerNap Sleep Centers Inc., which has a location in the Mall of America. Ramsdell has a wife and stepdaughter.
Top issues: Curing disease, campaign finance, health care

Running for state representative in District 42A:
Daniel Kim
DFL
Background: Kim moved from Korea to the United States in 1991 and lives with his siblings in Eden Prairie. He has three sisters and one brother. He does not currently have a job, but says he is eager to learn about politics.
Top issues: Health care, fair elections

Shari May
Republican
May has lived in Minnesota for 25 years and is a longtime community volunteer. She and her husband Bill live in Minnetonka. They have two sons, who are students at Minnetonka High School.
Top issues: Economy, health care, jobs, transportation

Rep. Maria Ruud
DFL
Background: Maria Ruud attended the University of Minnesota and the University of California, where she received an M.S.N., nursing. She works as a nurse practitioner and state representative. She was elected to the state legislature in 2004 and is serving her second term in office. Ruud is the vice chair of the Energy Finance and Policy Division.
Top issues: Energy, health care, education

Running for state representative in District 42B:
Jenifer Loon
Republican
Background: Loon grew up on a farm and later graduated from Augustana College with a degree in government and international Affairs. She has worked with a variety of committees in the House of Representatives. From 2003-2007, she worked for ACA International as a lobbyist and strategist for the credit and collection industry.
Top issues: Lower taxes, business, education

Jerry Pitzrick
DFL
Background: Pitzrick moved to Eden Prairie in 1976. He graduated as a civil engineer from the University of Minnesota. For 20 years, he worked for a national contractor. Today, he owns a business that consults with cities and government entities. He has also served in the Eden Prairie Planning Commission since 2006.
Top issues: Economy, energy, education
– Compiled by Erin Schmidtke