Find Out Who Wants to Represent Lake Minnetonka in the State Legislature

With the June 5 deadline to file for state and county offices having now come and gone, a picture of how November’s ballot will look is beginning to come into focus.

The retirement of State Senator Gen Olson has sparked what promises to be a hotly contested battle for her District 33 seat.

District 33 includes all of the communities ringing Lake Minnetonka, as well as Maple Plain, Independence, Plymouth, Loretto, St. Bonifacius and the northwest portion of Minnetonka.

Judy Rogosheske will represent the DFL in the District 33 race, but a primary will be needed to determine the GOP’s candidate.

While Republicans endorsed Mound City Councilman David Osmek at their May convention, Connie Doepke—who currently represents District 33B in the State House—has also declared her candidacy.

An August primary will determine who appears on the ballot.

Doepke’s run for State Senate vacates her House seat, and three local residents have officially declared their candidacies with the Secretary of State.

Redistricting slightly shifted District 33B’s boundaries, which now encompass the southern and western Lake Minnetonka communities of Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Minnetonka Beach, Mound, Spring Park and Tonka Bay.

Denise Bader will represent the DFL in the race, but another August primary will be needed to determine the GOP candidate.

Cindy Pugh and incumbent Steve Smith, who represented District 33A prior to redistricting, will square off to determine who faces Bader in November.

With Smith now running in District 33B, his District 33A seat has effectively been vacated. District 33A includes most of Lake Minnetonka’s northern communities, including Wayzata, Deephaven, Orono and Long Lake.

Republican Jerry Hertaus will face off against the DFL’s Todd Mikkelson in the 33A race.

A variety of other local school board and city council seats will also be on the November ballot. The deadline for those races remains open until August 14.

Patch will have ongoing coverage of the 2012 elections throughout the summer and fall. E-mail your story suggestions to jay.corn@patch.com and be sure to comment on this story to share your thoughts on the local, state and national races.