Endorsed Duluth DFLer Erik Simonson is proceeding with his write-in campaign for a Minnesota House seat in District 7B after the State Supreme Court didn't act to remove disgraced Rep. Kerry Gauthier's name from the ballot. Gauthier withdrew from the race last month after admitting to a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy at a Duluth rest stop.

The state's Democratic Party asked the Supreme Court Friday to remove exiting Duluth Rep. Kerry Gauthier's name from the ballot and replace it with Erik Simonson's name. Gauthier dropped his bid for re-election last month after he admitted to a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy at a Duluth rest stop.

The Duluth News Tribune endorses a write-in Independent candidate in the race for House District 7B race to replace disgraced State Rep. Kerry Gauthier of Duluth. The paper says Jay Fosle -- a member of the Duluth City Council campaigning as an independent write-in candidate -- is better suited for the job than Erik Simonson.

DFL endorsed Erik Simonson was the overwhelming winner in the race for Minnesota State House District 7B seat to replace disgraced Rep. Kerry Gauthier, the Duluth News Tribune reports. Simonson, an assistant Duluth fire chief, received 62 percent of the vote. Republican Travis Silvers received about 22 percent and write-in candidate Jay Fosle took the remaining 16 percent.

The top Democrat in the Minnesota House wants Rep. Kerry Gauthier, DFL-Duluth, off the November ballot. Gauthier has been under fire since it was revealed last week that he had a sexual encounter at a highway rest stop with a 17-year-old boy.

Duluth assistant fire chief Erik Simonson won the endorsement from Duluth democrats at a convention Saturday. Simonson received 60 percent of the vote over Julene Boe. Republican Travis Silvers is also on the ballot.

State Rep. Kerry Gauthier, DFL-Duluth, announced Wednesday morning that he was moving ahead with his re-election campaign. By evening he had changed his mind, forced out of the race by the furor surrounding his acknowledgement last week that he met a 17-year-old for sex at a highway rest stop.