Article: Riding the DFL tide into office; Maria Ruud of Minnetonka and Steve Simon of St. Louis Park say they benefited from a desire for change and strong turnout for John Kerry when they unseated two Republican state representatives, including the popular Jim Rhodes.(WEST)

Byline: Ben Steverman; Staff Writer

Maria Ruud's life has been hectic since Minnetonka and Eden Prairie voters unexpectedly chose her to represent them in the Legislature.

The new DFL representative from Minnetonka now must squeeze her job as an OB-GYN nurse practitioner and several volunteer commitments in between orientation sessions for new members of the Minnesota House.

"I have a lot to learn," Ruud said, but she isn't a complete political novice. With two children in the Hopkins schools, she has served on several school district committees, including a group that lobbied in St. Paul.

This year, she said, after seeing the effects ...

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