Sixth District: The candidates at a glance

Anderson, of Woodbury, is a mental-health advocate who says the health insurance industry needs reform and people need a choice of private or government-sponsored health insurance plans.

Age: 50

Family: Single, two adult children

Education: Richfield High School

Career: Dental lab technician, former small-business owner, mental health advocate; host of cable TV show "Inside Mental Health Issues"

Website: www.bobandersonforcongress.com

Bachmann, of Stillwater, is in her first term in Congress. She has carved out a mark as a staunch conservative on social and fiscal issues. She has had a high profile in the past year, particularly on energy issues, where she has called for opening the country's Arctic wildlife refuge, deep-sea reserves and oil shale fields for exploration and drilling.

Family: Married, five children; former foster parent to 23 children.

Education: Anoka High School; Winona State University; law degree, Coburn School of Law at Oral Roberts University; tax law degree, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary.

Career: U.S. House, 2007-present; Minnesota Senate, 2001-07; small-business owner with husband, owns and operates two mental health clinics.

Website: www.michelebachmann.com

Tinklenberg, of Blaine, a former state transportation commissioner under Gov. Jesse Ventura and former mayor of Blaine, is making his second Sixth District congressional bid. He narrowly lost the DFL endorsement to Patty Wetterling in 2006. He considers himself a political moderate and fiscally conservative.

Family: Married, three children, three stepchildren, seven grandchildren.

Education: University of Minnesota Duluth; M.Div., United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.

Career: President of consulting firm specializing in transportation and related issues; state transportation commissioner, 1999-2003; mayor of Blaine, 1987-97; Blaine City Council member, 1983-87; United Methodist Church minister, 1977-86.