Deb Barber, a candidate for county board seat in Scott County, paints her opponent in the November general election as the embodiment of St. Paul politics and the Republican establishment, more concerned with image than reality.
But her challenger, Mike Beard, a longtime state representative who opted to run for county commissioner instead of seeking a seventh term, says Barber is trying to divert attention from her own lack of political seasoning.
Beard coasted to victory last week in the primary, finishing with 586 votes, far ahead of the 378 votes for Barber.
The two candidates will next face off in the November election in District 3, which includes most of their shared hometown of Shakopee, the county seat.
Another challenger, Matt Lehman, a Shakopee City Council member, finished third — losing to Barber, though, by fewer than 30 votes — less than a week after pulling out of a televised candidate forum.
Barber says Beard's tenure at the Statehouse, which spanned 12 years, was spent cozying up to special-interest lobbyists and insiders.
"They balanced the budget, but they did so on the backs of the suburban counties," she said, singling out cuts to health and human services programs. "And I find that a little troubling that he wants to come back and represent the interests of the county."
Beard said that his political experience has given him intimate knowledge of the inner workings of state and county government. If anything, his deep political roots will come in handy, he said at a candidate forum in a wood-paneled room at the Turtles Social Centre in downtown Shakopee.
