Jim Knoblach to "concentrate on his MN House duties" ...for now

Minnesota State Representative Jim Knoblach, candidate for the Sixth U.S. Congressional seat being vacated by Mark Kennedy, tells The Ice Palace that he will be laying low with respect to his U.S. congressional campaign, saying that he is focusing on his current job as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and that his current elected office will take first priority until the 2005 legislative session has ended. Knoblach faces stiff opposition from fellow St. Cloud resident Jay Esmay, a newcomer to running for office, and co-chair of the St. Cloud area Republican party, as well as from Minnesota State Senator Michelle Bachman. Knoblach did state that he takes issue with portions of Esmay's exploratory letter written to delegates. Specifically, Knoblach states that Esmay's assertion that he (Esmay) is the only one with business experience is untrue, since Knoblach asserts that he (Knoblach) ran a business for over 20 years. Despite this, Knoblach did state that he has a lot of respect for Esmay.
-Psycmeistr-