Submitted Photo District 3 Republican-endorsed candidates for the Legislature are, from left, Jeff Hoverson, Sen. Oley Larsen and Bob Paulson.

A District 3 Republican legislator passed over for endorsement this week says he is circulating petitions to run in the June primary election.

Rep. Andrew Maragos and Ward County Commissioner Alan Walter did not receive the party endorsement Tuesday but have said they will mount primary challenges.

District 3 Republicans endorsed Jeff Hoverson and Bob Paulson for the House and incumbent Oley Larsen for the Senate.

District 5 Republicans on Wednesday endorsed incumbents Sen. Randy Burckhard and Rep. Scott Louser and newcomer Jay Fisher for the House.

Hoverson has 25 years of ministry experience and is currently a pastor at Living Word church in north Minot. Formerly a public school teacher, he also is a businessman operating a “LoVE Ice Cream” food truck business with his family.

Paulson retired as commander after a 24-year career with the Navy. A pilot, he participated in Operation Desert Shield and later served as operations officer for the Fleet Logistics Support Wing during Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

He moved in 2009 to Minot, where he currently is president of the Lighthouse Church board, board president for Dakota Hope Clinic, treasurer for Minot Camp of the Gideons International and participates in the New Life Fellowship ministry to inmates at the Ward County Jail. He also has worked in the past with Men’s Winter Refuge. He and his wife, Sheryll, have 10 children.

Larsen is a former educator now employed in the insurance industry. He has been in the state Senate since 2011 and served as vice chairman of the Senate Human Services Committee.

Maragos is a Minot businessman and Vietnam veteran who has served in the House from 1993 to 2006 and again since 2011. Walter is a former Minot public works director, elected to the Ward County Commission in 2012.

District 3 includes an eastern portion of Minot, Surrey, Logan and the rural area in Nedrose, Surrey, New Prairie and Sundre townships.

District 5 consists of much of south Minot.

Burckhard, who has represented the district in the Senate since 2011, is a retired SRT Communications executive. He has been heavily involved in the community, serving on the Minot City Council, Minot Area Chamber of Commerce, Minot Area Development Corp, Souris Valley United Way and Task Force 21. He has chaired the Senate Political Subdivisions Committee.

Louser, a House member since 2011, is a Realtor and owner of NextHome Legendary Properties. He has served as vice chairman of the Government and Veterans Affairs Committee.

Fisher is former director of the NDSU-North Central Research Extension Center in Minot. He served on the board of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce and as chairman and current board member of Minot Area Development Corp.