The race for the Third District congressional seat that Republican Jim Ramstad is giving up has attracted another candidate -- this time from the Independence Party.
Businessman David Dillon says he wants to represent the Twin Cities' western suburbs in Washington. Dillon is a printing company chief executive officer. He announced his campaign Wednesday.
Dillon is right of the political center when it comes to economic policies. He wants to replace the income tax with a 23 percent national sales tax and says he would resign if he ever voted for deficit spending or an earmarked project for his district.
But he's more liberal on social issues, saying he's OK with gay marriage and favors aggressive stem-cell research.
State Rep. Erik Paulsen of Eden Prairie is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat. In the race on the DFL side are state Sen. Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka, Iraq war veteran Ashwin Madia of Plymouth and Edina mayor Jim Hovland.
Since Ramstad announced his plans to retire at the end of his current term, reports have surfaced that GOP leaders are working to change his mind, fearing an expensive and competitive race to replace the popular incumbent. But staffers say he has no plans to run.
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