Another Republican legislator will not run again for another term in office, but this one intends to stay at the Capitol in a different job.
State Rep. Kurt Zellers of Maple Grove, a candidate for governor, said Monday he will not run for re-election.
“It’s a way to show people that I’m all in for governor’s race,” he said. “I’m not going to hold on to two offices. It’s either up or out.”
Zellers, one of six Republicans running for governor, has said he intends to run in a primary if he does not receive the party’s endorsement.
The high point of Zellers’ six terms in the Lgislature came when he served as speaker of the House after he led Republicans to majority status in the 2010 elections. Things were reversed, though, in 2012 when Republicans lost their majority, resulting in DFL control of the governor’s office and the Minnesota House and Senate.
Zellers presided over the Minnesota House during the 15-day state government shutdown in 2011. Ultimately, Republicans prevailed in their demands for no tax increases in the budget.
He said that tax issues are still on his agenda for the new legislative session, pledging to help repeal the business-to-business taxes that were passed last year.
Two Republican candidates already have said they will run for Zellers’ 34B House seat — Dennis Smith, the treasurer of his gubernatorial campaign, and Dean Henke, a member of the Osseo school board.