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Senator-elect Gary Dahms, R-Redwood Falls, District 21

Election: Defeated DFL candidate Al Kruse for the seat vacated by Sen. Dennis Frederickson, R-New Ulm

Dahms is currently a Redwood County commissioner. He'll step down at the end of December. Dahms said he wants to bring long-term stability to state finances by restructuring government services.

"No area is off the table," Dahms said. "Any area that we have duplication or overlap, we need to look at it. Any area that's not efficient, we need to look at it. Any area that we can combine an agency make it more efficient and provide the same or better service, we need to be looking at doing that."

Senator-elect Theodore "Ted" Daley, R-Eagan, District 38  

Election: Defeated incumbent Sen. Jim Carlson, DFL-Eagan

Education: BS, West Point; MBA, University of St. Thomas

Daley currently serves on the Eagan Planning Commission. He made his first bid for elected office after a 20 year military career. Daley said he wants to advance what he calls the "free-enterprise agenda."

"We need to set the conditions for the economy to flourish," Daley said. "It's not increasing taxes or adding regulations. It's what I call leading the way by getting out of the way."

Senator-elect Al DeKruif, R-Madison Lake, District 25 

Election: Defeated incumbent Sen. Kevin Dahle, DFL-Northfield

Education:  Attended, University of Minnesota Waseca

DeKruif is a political newcomer and among several GOP freshmen with business backgrounds. DeKruif said his top job is to improve the state's business tax climate.

"We have to again hang a sign out in Minnesota that we're open for business," DeKruif said. "Rather than creating programs where we can target businesses that we would like to lure to the state, I would like to improve the overall businesses climate so that we help both large businesses that might want to expand here and also our main street businesses."

Senator-elect Paul Gazelka, R-Brainerd, District 12

Election: Defeated DFL candidate Taylor Stevenson

Gazelka is a former state representative who defeated incumbent Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, in the Aug. 10 primary. Gazelka said people are crying out for good paying jobs in the private sector.

"Brainerd and Little Falls have some of the highest unemployment rates in the state," Gazelka said. We have seen a flow of jobs outside of our region."

(Photos courtesy of the Minnesota Senate)

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Senator-elect Gary Dahms, R-Redwood Falls, District 21 Election: Defeated DFL candidate Al Kruse for the seat vacated by Sen. Dennis Frederickson, R-New Ulm Family: Married, two children Occupation: Insurance agent Education: BS, University of Minnesota Dahms is currently a Redwood County commissioner. He’ll step down at the end of December. Dahms said he wants to…

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