This Perky Candidate is a DFL Underdog

by Jeff Olsen

The name is Perkins, huh?

"Yes, it's spelled just like the pancake restaurant," said Reed Perkins, who lives in East Grand Forks.

Too bad you're not related. You'd be quite wealthy.

"I had an uncle who was big into genealogy and he checked it out. And no, the Perkins brothers out of Kansas were not actually related to us in any sort of way whatsoever."

Candidate Perkins perked right up.

"I think I make a pretty good blueberry pancake, if I may say so. But, no, the Perkins family restaurant fortune is not in my name."

At 33, the DFL'er is running against incumbent Republican State...