Woodbury Mayor and Republican candidate for governor Mary Giuliani Stephens today announced Browns Valley State Representative Jeff Backer as her running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Backer says his work for people in rural Minnesota is an asset and adds “one of the reasons I think myself and several other Reps changed the House in 2014 is because the frustration that people had in Greater Minnesota of not being heard from this administration.” Stephens says Backer “has a proven track record of standing up for education, agriculture, rural healthcare, transportation and all other issues of concern to rural families.” Backer says if he and Stephens receive the endorsement in June, he will not run again for State Representative.Other Republicans running include former Governor Tim Pawlenty and Jeff Johnson. Democrats running include U-S Representative Tim Walz and State Auditor Rebecca Otto.