MARSHALL — A third area resident has announced he will run for the Minnesota House of Representatives seat currently held by Rep. Chris Swedzinski. On Thursday, Marshall resident David Sturrock said he will seek the Republican endorsement for House District 15A.

“I am running to give southwest Minnesota the leadership it needs in St. Paul,” Sturrock said in a Thursday news release. “With five long-time Republican legislators retiring this year, we are losing more than 80 years of legislative experience. My work to promote transportation improvements, economic development and educational resources will help me advocate for relief for our region’s unique disadvantage.”

So far, Sturrock is the third Republican candidate running for House District 15A, after Swedzinski announced this week that he will not seek reelection at the end of his current term. Granite Falls resident Hunter McFall announced his candidacy earlier this week, as did rural Ghent resident Brad Hennen.

District 15A includes Lac qui Parle, Yellow Medicine and Lyon counties, as well as part of Chippewa County.

Sturrock said he was surprised when Swedzinski announced that he would not seek reelection.

“I wasn’t expecting the opportunity,” Sturrock said of running for state Legislature. However, Sturrock said he considered the opportunity carefully with his family and had discussions with Southwest Minnesota State University, where he teaches political science. In the end, Sturrock said, “It all came together.”

Sturrock has served in community leadership in several different roles. He has served on the Marshall City Council, as well as on the Marshall Area Transportation Group. He is a board member of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, and has been active in his church.

Sturrock said his experience with advocating for southwest Minnesota transportation and business would help him in explaining regional needs at the Legislature.

“We are in a squeeze” in southwest Minnesota, he said. This part of the state is located close to other states with lower taxes and a more business-friendly environment, he said. “We have an unusual situation because of that.”

Sturrock said making it easier for job creators to stay in Minnesota would be his top priority in the House. Accountability for fraud in the Minnesota, heading off the forecasted state deficit, and reversing declines in educational performance and public safety were also high-priority, he said.

“My approach to the job will be to read the bills, ask appropriate questions, and pay close attention to the people who sent me to the Capitol. We are a long way from St. Paul and need to know that our legislators are listening and will respond promptly to our concerns,” Sturrock said.