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Democratic Farmer Labor Party Senate District 23 met on Saturday at the Albert Lea Union Center to conduct party business and endorse candidates for Minnesota House Seats 23A and 23B.

Senate District Chair Angie Hanson convened the convention, directors were elected, and the convention split to nominate and endorse the Minnesota House Seat 23A and 23B candidates.

Joe Staloch, a resident of Albert Lea, was endorsed by acclamation for Minnesota House 23A.

Staloch spoke of growing up on a farm near Wells. He left the area for college, graduating from Winona State, and then lived and worked in St Paul. His job involved accepting hazardous household wastes and working on the Biowatch Program. In 2017, Staloch returned to the area to work and be near family.  He emphasized an eagerness to represent District 23A in the Minnesota House to improve access to health care, prevent hospital and clinic closures, to increase local stocks of affordable housing, and to work for other issues to support the businesses, citizens and families in District 23A.

Joe Pacovsky, a resident of the Hayward area, was also endorsed by a vote of acclamation for Minnesota House 23B.

Pacovsky has a degree in mechanical engineering and started his career at Hormel. He was the manager of a municipal utility for 26 years and improved both reliability and utility rates. If elected he promised to work to protect women’s reproductive rights and to promote economic growth in District 23B.

Both candidates thanked the delegates for their support and endorsement and asked delegates present to support their campaigns to win election by volunteering, and donating to their campaigns.