Halvorsen says he’s motivated by desire to serve

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 23, 2002

Allan L. Halvorsen, DFL candidate for House District 27A, finished filing his campaign committee last week. Now, he is ready to activate his public outreach to address what the community needs.

The 49-year-old general practice attorney came forth as a prime DFL candidate just before the district’s endorsing convention held on April 14 in Austin.

The campaign committee, Halvorsen for House, is administered by Paul Moore as chairman, Sophie Ehrhardt as treasurer, and Kenneth Houg as deputy treasurer.

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He will run against two-term incumbent Rep. Dan Dorman, an Albert Lea Republican.

Though Halvorsen thinks it is still premature to place priorities on the items on his agenda, he said the creation of quality jobs, opportunities for small business, assistance for family farms, incentives and tools for unemployment, affordable housing, and the environment and renewable energy are among his concerns.

“I am not running for a particular issue,” said Halvorsen. “Rather, I would like to be open to looking at and listening to different viewpoints and different people to identify problems that affect our community.”

As a local lawyer since 1991, Halvorsen has been interacting with numerous clients in the county to provide the best solution for them. “The experience helped me look at an issue from more than one side. This would help me run for a public position, too,” he said.

Before going into the world of law, Halvorsen spent his time in the field near Emmons for 10 years, growing corn and beans.

In the late ’80s, he worked part-time at the University of Minnesota Extension Service to assist farmers to build a financial plan to get over a difficult economic climate in agricultural society.

“I love the community, and I want to work with the people,” Halvorsen said.

Halvorsen has been the city attorney for Hayward for two years, and is an incumbent secretary of the 10th District Minnesota Bar Association. He was also a president of Albert Lea Toastmasters, Sertoma Service Club, Freeborn County Bar Association, and Freeborn County American Deli Association.