ROCHESTER &045; Democratic delegates endorsing Steve Andreasen of Rochester to run against Rep. Gil Gutknecht at the First District DFL convention Saturday in Rochester.

Andreasen, a native of Richfield, has spent the last seven years working on the staff of the National Security Council in Washington. He established residency in Rochester earlier this year. He received support from about two-thirds of the 126 delegates. The rest supported Todd Rasmussen, a banker in Winona.

Andreason was a national security aide in the Clinton, Bush Sr. and Reagan administrations.

He called on Democrats, moderates and independents &uot;to work together to provide the independent voice needed in the new First District,&uot; according to a statement.

&uot;We have the energy and enthusiasm, we are on the right side of the issues, and we understand how important this election is,&uot; he said.