Two young Democrats — a Rice County commissioner from Northfield and a Le Center native now living in Montgomery — are competing for the opportunity to take on Republican state Sen. Tom Neuville of Northfield in the Nov. 7 general election.

Jessica Peterson, 29, won a seat on the Rice County Board in 2004 and said service on that board has helped her understand how poorly the state budget is being handled.

“We need some change at the state level,” Peterson said.

Tim Siebsen, 23, is a real estate agent in Montgomery and a six-year member of the Army National Guard who served in Kosovo.

“I think it would be a good idea to get some young people involved and get some fresh air up in the Capitol,” Siebsen said.

Neuville represents District 25, a diverse district that includes Carleton and St. Olaf colleges in Northfield, bedroom communities in Rice and Scott counties, farm land and small towns stretching all the way to Arlington in Sibley County and all of Le Sueur County.

Four Democrats have tried to topple Neuville, a private practice attorney, since he was first elected in 1990. The past two attempts were by former Montgomery Mayor Jim Mladek, who won 46 percent of the vote in 2002 and 47 percent in 2004.

“I ran Jim Mladek’s Senate campaign in 2002,” said Siebsen, who minored in political science at the University of Minnesota at Morris and worked in Congressman Jim Oberstar’s office in 2001.

This would be Siebsen’s first run for public office. He calls himself an independent-minded Democrat with few political entanglements.

Siebsen said his military service makes him want to ensure that veterans’ programs are working well and he would attempt to use his position in the Senate to pressure the federal government to reduce the waiting time veterans face in getting health care.

Siebsen supports universal health care, starting with children and the elderly.

“You can’t throw it all in place at one time, but I think we can take steps,” he said.

Peterson grew up in the Chicago area but has lived in Northfield since enrolling at Carleton College 11 years ago. She’s the owner of a gallery and framing shop along with serving on the County Board.

Her legislative run was prompted by what she sees as irresponsible state budget decisions. Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s refusal to raise state income taxes when the state was facing huge deficits forced inadequate budgets for education, public health and other social programs she believes are essential to the quality of life in the state.

“I’m hoping we can move on with real practical solutions rather than political solutions and political football,” she said.