KAAL-TV morning news producer/anchor Terry Kelley has registered a campaign committee for the District 27 Minnesota State Senate seat and is considering running as a DFL candidate.

Monday, January 14, 2002

KAAL-TV morning news producer/anchor Terry Kelley has registered a campaign committee for the District 27 Minnesota State Senate seat and is considering running as a DFL candidate.

Kelley registered the committee, named &uot;Minnesotans for Kelley,&uot; with the State Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board on Dec. 31. Former DFL Sen. Pat Piper is named as the committee chairwoman.

Kelley did not make it clear whether he would actually run for the election in a telephone interview with Tribune, saying, &uot;I am in the process of exploring the possibility.&uot;

&uot;I will make my decision probably by the end of February,&uot; he added.

&uot;What I formed is an exploratory committee. It is putting an apparatus or infrastructure to be able to raise and spend money. That is the only reason I registered,&uot; he emphasized.

Redistricting and his professional career are the points he said he would have to look at.

Kelley said he would seek an endorsement from DFL if he decides to run.

Piper, who had been a prominent DFL senator for 18 years, said the local DFL organization has not yet started preparing for the election.

Piper said she has been giving Kelley advice and has promised her support. But she expressed a reservation for playing the chairwoman position in an actual campaign.

&uot;It is too early to make a decision. There are too many variables. I am kind of waiting until the session is over,&uot; she said.

According to the KAAL-TV Web site, Kelley joined KAAL Good Morning Region Six as anchor/weather caster in December 1996. He has also been a producer since 1998.

His prior broadcasting career includes a news director position at KDWA Radio in Hastings and a reporter/anchor in a Sioux City TV station.