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.

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.

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.

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.

Disgraced Duluth lawmaker Rep. Kerry Gauthier won't appear on the ballot, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. The high court granted the Democratic Party's request to have Gauthier's name scrubbed and replaced by endorsed candidate Erik Simonson.

The St. Louis County Attorney's office tells the Duluth News Tribune state Rep. Kerry Gauthier will not face charges after "suspicious activity" last month at the Thompson Hill rest stop along Interstate 35 involving a 17-year-old boy. According to police records released Thursday, Gauthier admitted he met the teen through Craigslist. Both parties told investigators that the sex was consensual and that no money was exchanged. The 17-year-old also told police that he told Gauthier he was 18.