StarTribune.com – Larry Oakes, Star Tribune
Brainerd, Minn. – You could call Chrissy Nakonsky a candidate of change.
Until about five years ago, Nakonsky, who recently announced she’s running for the Minnesota Legislature and will seek the Republican endorsement in her Brainerd-area district, was known as Jeff Nakonsky.
Nakonsky said the 2006 reelection of the state’s only openly gay Republican legislator, Sen. Paul Koering of nearby Fort Ripley, gives her hope that Brainerd-area voters won’t deny her a legislative seat because of her gender change.