DFLer Meffert plans to challenge GOP Rep. Paulsen

DFLer Jim Meffert is throwing his hat into the ring in the contest to unseat Republican Erik Paulsen in the 3rd Congressional District in 2010. Paulsen is serving his first term in Congress.

Meffert, a lobbyist for the Optometric Association from Edina, Minn., filed his official campaign paperwork earlier this week.

Meffert said people in the third district are frustrated by partisanship and politics as usual on both sides of the aisle.

"This district as we have seen from Congressman Ramstad and Congressman Frenzel looks for people who are conscientious participants in the system; they are not safe votes, they were not safe Republican votes," Meffert said. "They want people who are good public servants and understand public policy. That is what we are missing right now."

Meffert will have at least one challenger for the DFL endorsement, Dr. Maureen Hackett, a physician and forensic psychiatrist from Minnetonka.

DFL state Sen. Terri Bonoff is also considering a run.

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