Gov. Mark Dayton must choose between three candidates to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Thomas Poch in Minnesota's First Judicial District.
Here are the candidates and their biographies, provided by the governor's office:
Ann Offermann: Offerman is an Assistant Dakota County Attorney where she is assigned to the Adult Criminal Prosecution Division. She previously served as a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Minnesota. Offerman is involved with the Minnesota Valley YMCA and the Family Advisory Council with Children's Hospitals and Clinics.
Thomas Pugh: Pugh is an attorney with Rogosheske, Sieben, Atkins & Pugh, LLC, representing clients in criminal actions and a wide variety of civil proceedings. He served as House Minority Leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives and was also a commissioner on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Pugh currently serves on the Luther Memorial Church Council and, as a parent of a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, is active with the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign.
Chris Wilton: Wilton is an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota. He previously served as an Assistant Ramsey County Attorney. Wilton is actively involved with local schools serving as a volunteer hockey coach for the Apple Valley Hockey Association and a parent volunteer with Olson Middle School.
Dayton is expected to select a replacement in the next few weeks. The First Judicial District includes Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, LeSueur, McLeod, Scott and Sibley counties.
