Former Congressman Jim Ramstad endorsed Ryan Rutzick in House District 44B this afternoon. In a statement from Rutzick's campaign, Ramstad said "we need new, centrist leaders like Ryan Rutzick who will work in a bi-partisan, common sense way, on the problems facing the people of our district." Rutzick is facing Democrat Jon Applebaum in next Tuesday's election.

Applebaum had previously claimed he had been endorsed by Ramstad, but later acknowledged he had not been endorsed by Ramstad.

It is a violation of the Minnesota Fair Campaign Practices Act for a candidate to claim they have "the support or endorsement of an individual without first getting written permission from the individual to do so."

Ramstad represented this area in Congress and other portions previously when he served in the Minnesota Senate. Ramstad currently lives in House District 44B. Ramstad remains a political powerhouse in Minnesota, but since leaving office in 2009, Ramstad has rarely enganged in partisan politics, which adds further weight to his endorsement.

Ramstad added, "we need new leaders like Ryan Rutzick, who will work to create jobs, reduce taxes, improve education, protect seniors and address the other important issues facing Minnesotans."

Picture source: Ryan Rutzick for State Representative