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Dr. Dave Detert of Litchfield has announced that he will seek the DFL endorsement to run for th eMinnesota House in District 18B again. District 18B includes all of Meeker County.

"My goal is to ensure a better life for every Minnesotan," said Detert. "Achieving that goal means returning the focus of government to those issues that will be of critical importance to all of us in confronting competition from nations like China, Brazil, and India. We need to reform health care, restructure education, and develop communication and transportation systems to support a modern economy."

"We can meet any challenge from the rest of the world," said Detert, "if, together, we concentrate on finding solutions to the problems we face rather than being held politically hostage by those who continually emphasize and exploit divisive issues."

Breaking the impasse will require minimizing the extreme elements in both political parties, said Detert. Blunting the influence of political minorities would return control of government to the majority of Minnesotans, he explained.

As a variation of the Republican proposal to have a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage, Detert suggested holding binding statewide elections (on a periodic basis) on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage.

Detert is running for the House seat currently held by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), who has been elected to two terms representing District 18B. In 2004, Urdahl defeated Detert 13,562 to 6,604.

Detert is a family physician who has practiced in Litchfield for the past 18 years. He grew up on a farm in Martin County and attended Augustana College and the University of Minnesota Medical School. He is the former school board chair in Litchfield and a former Naval and National Guard officer. He is active in civic groups, is the current president of the Litchfield Public Schools Foundation, and an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He and his wife Sharon have four sons.