Tschumper considering rematch with Davids

Former DFL state Rep. Ken Tschumper is still trying to decide whether to face-off against Republican Rep. Greg Davids for a third time.

In 2006, Tschumper scored an upset victory over the 16-year veteran beating Davids by a mere 52 votes.  In 2008, Davids reclaimed the seat, beating Tschumper by 407 votes.

Tschumper said he plans to make a final decision this week.

"I have been weighing a lot of things. For a variety of reasons, it's turning out to be a more difficult decision than I thought it would," he said.

One of the reasons it has been difficult has to do with Tschumper's day job as a La Crescent dairy farmer. He said dairy farmers have been hit hard in the economic slowdown. If he were to run for office, he said he would have to hire someone to run his dairy farm for seven months so he could campaign, which would cost $20,000.

"It's not like if you have a law practice and you can lock the door for seven months," he said. "So that is playing into my caution."

Tschumper said he is very concerned about the massive budget deficits facing the state. He said his main motivation for running would be to try and help solve that crisis. To do that, Tschumper said he believes it would require raising more revenue.

"Everybody knows we are going to make some big cuts. But we need need to come up with some additional revenue," he said. "The question is will the governor finally give way on his no-new-taxes pledge or will he run this state into the ground completely," he said.

Another Democrat has already filed to run against Davids for the House 31B seat. Former Houston County DFL Chairman Steve Kemp has announced he is running.