Dakota County Commissioner Kathleen Gaylord to Run For Kline's Seat

Another Democrat has entered the race to face off versus U.S. Congressman John Kline, (R-Second District) of Lakeville, in the newly .

Dakota County Commissioner and former South St. Paul mayor Kathleen Gaylord today filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission declaring her intention to run as a DFL candidate for Congress in the Second Congressional District.

Goylord as candidates seeking the DFL endorsement to run against Kline.

"It’s time for new representation in the new (Second) Congressional District,” Gaylord said in a statement after filing. “Voters of all political persuasions are fed up with elected officials who put partisanship ahead of progress. They want common sense government instead of governance by the lowest common denominator." 

Gaylord, an attorney, is in her third term as Dakota County Commissioner, having been elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006 and 2010. In 2006 and 2009, she was elected Dakota County Board Chair and is the current Vice Chair.

Prior to her service on the Dakota County Board, Gaylord served for ten years as the Mayor of South St. Paul after eight years on the South St. Paul City Council.

She currently chairs the state Property Tax Working Group to study ways to simplify the complex state property tax system. 

"I’m excited to introduce myself to the voters of the 2nd in the coming months and to listen and learn about their hopes, their concerns and what they want from their government," Gaylord said in a statement. "It will be an honor and a privilege to continue those efforts in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the entire (Second) District.”

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