Albert Lea’s Erik Larsen files to run for Minnesota House District 27A seat

Published 4:55 pm Saturday, July 12, 2008

With other members of his party nearby at the Secretary of State’s Office in St. Paul, Albert Lean Erik Larsen officially filed his candidacy this week for the Minnesota House District 27A seat currently held by Rep. Robin Brown.

Larsen, who received the official Republican endorsement earlier this summer, announced in April his plans to run for office.

“This is a big day for my campaign,” he said. “I’m now officially asking for everyone’s vote in November. I’ve been working hard, visiting with residents and hearing their concerns. The message is ringing in my ears: better, more efficient government that can live within its means equals economic growth and more jobs.”

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Larsen’s visit to St. Paul this past Monday included a visit with other leaders including House Minority Leader Marty Seifert and Hayfield Rep. Randy Demmer.

After filing, Larsen participated in a press conference on the Capitol steps led by Seifert.

“It was a great experience to meet the other candidates from all parts of the state,” Larsen said. “They are a diverse and interesting group with a common interest in improving Minnesota.”

He said the group talked about some of the challenges the state is facing, and it helped him get to know some of the other members of his party much better.

Larsen, who has been exposed to the world of government from a young age, was born in Colorado Springs, Colo. He grew up living in all corners of the United States and even some in Europe. His father served as a career Air Force officer, and his mother worked in senators’ offices when the family lived in Washington, D.C.

In the mid-1980s, he moved to Albert Lea, where his family is from.

Now, he works for the National Federation of Independent Business as a field sales representative. He spends his days driving around seven counties in southern Minnesota talking to small business owners.

This is what motivated him to get involved with politics.

Larsen said since he announced his intent to run, he’s been busy organizing his campaign and has probably knocked on well over 2,000 doors throughout the district. That’s the most enjoyable part, he said.

Because he still has to work during the day, he knocks on doors for a few hours in the evenings, along with all day on Saturday and then a few hours on Sunday. He sets aside Thursdays to participate in the Bayside Ski Club’s show of the Flintstones.

“It’s really nice to listen to what the people have to say,” Larsen said.

Eight out of the 10 people he talks to say that improving the economy is their No. 1 concern. Other major concerns include school funding and health care.

“People are really concerned about gas and how they’re going to heat their houses,” he said.

Improving the economy would mean more jobs, Larsen said. And when more jobs are generated that means there are more people who come to the community. The benefits go on from there.

“When we generate jobs, everything else falls into place,” he said.

The solution is not a quick one, he noted, and it takes the state’s leaders being proactive to come up with the answer.

“Every time we turn around the metro seems to dominate us — whether it’s highways or school funding,” Larsen said.

If elected, he will work to address this, he said.

Though he’s never yet officially been involved with politics himself, he has a long interest in the political realm.

He majored in business in college and has recently taken up a hobby of studying economics.

He and his wife, Lori, have been married for 18 years. They have a 15-year-old son named Kyle and a 13-year-old daughter named Kristina.