District 24 Democrats endorsed Sandra Beckman Lorenz as a candidate for the House district 24B at a district convention held in Winnebago Saturday. Lorenz would take over the seat from Henry Kalis, who announced his retirement in April.

Lorenz works for the USC Senior High School in Wells as a guidance counselor. Her brother is former state senator Tracy Beckman, elected in the old district 26.

Lorenz emphasized that she would inherit the relation with constituents Kalis has developed and said, &uot;I want to show them (Republicans) that this district is not for sale.&uot;

Referring to her experience with students, Lorenz said, &uot;I believe the youth is our future. I want to be the one who represents the voice of the youth to meet their needs.&uot;

The Democrats gathered in Winnebago pledged to hold the DFL turf kept by Kalis for almost three decades.

Republicans have already endorsed Conservation Officer Tony Cornish of Good Thunder in Blue Earth County for the fall campaign.

In the DFL convention, incumbent Sen. Chuck Fowler of Fairmont in Martin County was unanimously endorsed for the senate seat.

The Republicans endorsed Fairmont’s Julie Rosen on the party ticket opposite Fowler. However, Tim Hage, an employee of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources from Eagle Lake in Blue Earth County, competed against Rosen for the nomination, and plans on contesting the endorsement in a primary.

For district 24A, which covers the western half of Faribault County, all of Martin County and eastern Watonwan County, the DFL endorsed former Fairmont City Councilor Lavonne Bowman to go up against Republican incumbent Rep. Bob Gunther of Fairmont.