The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota Senate District 2 held its Endorsing Convention on Tuesday, April 9, at the Bemidji Eagles Club in Bemidji. There were 31 delegates representing district 2A and 26 delegates representing 2B, for a total of 57 delegates participating.

DFL Delegates from House District 2A endorsed Reed Olson of Bemidji as their candidate for MN House District 2A. Reed Olson, 48, is a small business owner, who has co-owned the Wild Hare Bistro, in Bemidji, since 2005. 

During the last five years, he has been a silent partner in the business while working as the Executive Director for the Nameless Coalition for the Homeless. This organization operates two shelters in Bemidji: an emergency overnight shelter and a drop-in day center. 

Reed Olson previously served on the Bemidji City Council for four years, and as a Beltrami County Commissioner for 6 years. Olson, originally from Litchfield has a Bachelor’s Degree in history from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He moved to Bemidji in 1994.

DFL Delegates from House District 2B endorsed Michael Reyes of Cass Lake as their candidate for MN House District 2B. Michael Reyes, 40, of Cass Lake, works for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in Planning and Development. He writes grants and does strategic planning. He previously worked in law enforcement for 16 years, as a chief dispatcher, drug prevention officer and BIA data clerk. 

He is a volunteer firefighter who has served for over 10 years with the Cass Lake Fire Department. Michael Reyes is married with 5 children. He is currently an elected official for the Pike Bay Township in Cass County.

The Senate District 2 DFL organization also elected officers for two-year terms. They elected new officers Curtiss Hunt as chair, Barbara Keinath as vice-chair, Sue Kraft as secretary, and two alternates to the State Central Committee, Jennifer O’Neil and Mike Simpkins. The organization re-elected Christian Taylor-Johnson as outreach officer and Mike Albrecht as treasurer.