I was not surprised to see that State Rep. Gregory Gray, a former auditor, won the DFL endorsement for state auditor last spring. I was shocked when he lost the September DFL primary to Carol Johnson, who, unlike Gray, has no experience as an auditor, doesn’t have a college degree and hasn’t even hit the campaign trail.

As the Star Tribune’s Lori Sturdevant pointed out, Johnson won because she is white and has a popular Scandinavian name.

Fortunately there is a qualified candidate in the race. Patty Anderson Awada. Because of her performance as Eagan mayor, she was named the Twin Cities Mayor of the Year. Awada knows about small government budgets – something she deals with every day. Awada started and now runs her own business. She also cares about social causes, having adopted children from foreign countries.

No matter what your party affiliation is there is no need to embarrass Minnesota or the DFL party by voting for Johnson in the general election. Informed voters, show your support for the qualified candidate, Patty Anderson Awada.