Minnesota's candidates for Governor at the State Fair

There is lots of talk in the mainstream media about how much money Hatch and Pawlenty have in the bank (reminding them no doubt to buy lots of mainstream media advertisements). However, the leaders in the money-gathering race are refusing to debate and have not launched conventional grassroots campaigns, while their opponents Senator Becky Lourey and Sue Jeffers - the Republican primary challenger are spending long days and very little money campaigning face to face with State Fair attendees and are winning over voters one at a time, face to face.

From an article at StarTribune.com by Patricia Lopez:

On the gubernatorial front, the wait could be longer. That State Fair debate was cancelled after Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Attorney General Mike Hatch, the DFL candidate, declined to participate.

Pawlenty campaign manager Mike Krueger said the format "was not one we were interested in." MPR had planned to have all the major party primary candidates join in, which would have included Independence Party endorsee Peter Hutchinson, his IP rival Pam Ellison, GOP challenger Sue Jeffers and Hatch's DFL opponent, Becky Lourey.

Melenie Soucheray, spokeswoman for Hutchinson, said they had accepted the invitation and were disappointed.

"We're sorry the people of Minnesota will not get to evaluate their three endorsed candidates at the fair," she said.

Technorati Tags: Governor Minnesota "Becky Lourey" "Sue Jeffers"

Becky Lourey gets a plug from a DailyKos blogger

In a journal on the high-traffic DailyKos website, a blogger by the handle evilpenguin has made a post endorsing Becky Lourey for governor, and along with making with a call to readers to contribute financially to the campaign, has created a poll and encouraged supporters of other candidates to justify their support beyond the simple logic of "candidate X has recieved my party's endorsement".

The results are interesting.

Technorati Tags: Becky Lourey, DFL

Ken Pentel bemoans Federal convictions for Green Party Councilman

In an article by Randy Furst at the Star Tribune the Green Party's perennial candidate for Governor Ken Pentel bemoans the Federal corruption convictions of the Green Party's Minneapolis Councilman Dean Zimmerman:

"Obviously this particular situation is upsetting," said Ken Pentel, the Green Party's candidate for governor. "But it pales in comparison to the massive wealth that pours into our political system."

Zimmermann, who could face up to five years in prison, was found guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis of accepting $7,200 from a real estate developer in return for working to get zoning changes on a condominium development and helping the developer start a new Somali mall.

"I feel really bad about the whole situation," Pentel said. "I'm friends with Dean, and I care about him." While he said he believes Zimmermann made mistakes, he doesn't believe he's guilty of bribery.

While it is unfortunate that the FBI is not winning more notable bribery and corruption charges against defense contractors instead of having to pursue criminal investigations and prosecutions of local elected officials, it is very much a sign that many Greens are as deeply cynical about the value of public service as members of any other political party.

Cam Gordon, the only Green now on the City Council, attended parts of Zimmermann's trial.

"I think it will feed people's cynicism," he said. "It's bad publicity."

He said he worries that "people could be turned off to politics in general" and be less inclined to get involved. "It's tragic and sad," he said. "I really do feel for Dean and his family."

Steven Schier, a professor of political science at Carleton College, noted that the former state chairman of the Green Party was quoted last week siding entirely with Zimmermann after the verdicts.

"I think it's hard for a political party to continue to embrace a convicted felon," Schier said "That's no way to broaden your appeal. I think the Green Party has got to move beyond Dean Zimmermann and the controversy surrounding him because that is a big negative to voters."

Asked if he thought Zimmermann's conviction was only "a bump in the road," a phrase used by Pentel and Dave Berger, the Green Party's candidate for auditor, Schier said, "It could be a bump in the road, but it was enough to really shake the chassis."

Another Minnesota newspaper, the Bemidji Pioneer recently published an article covering Ken Pentel's appearance at a Green Party fundraiser, where strangely enough he claimed the Green Party stands for honest democracy (among other things):

“What do third parties have to offer?” he asked about 30 Bemidji Greens who held a potluck dinner at Diamond Point Park. “We may not have a lot of money … but we have a sense of vision that’s practical, that’s sustainable, that establishes security long-term for generations yet to be born.”
Ken Pentel, the Green Party of Minnesota-endorsed candidate for governor, speaks to about 30 Bemidji Greens on Thursday night at Diamond Point Park, emphasizing honesty in democracy, energy independence and support for single-payer universal health care.
Those values “are a natural magnet for people in our society today,” he said.

Pentel, making his third run at the governor’s office, finds himself this time running as a minor party candidate, without the automatic ballot access that is given to the DFL, Republican and Independence parties. It means possible exclusion from debates, joining the lower-rung status candidates have with the Libertarian, Constitution or American parties.

The party needs to have one of its five statewide candidates this fall to get at least 5 percent of the vote to regain major party status — and automatic access to the ballot for its candidates.

That’s why one of Pentel’s three major issues is campaigning for “honest democracy,” which includes proportional voting and instant runoff voting, both ballot procedures designed to give more power to third parties.

Technorati Tags: Governor, Minnesota, Green Party, bribery, corruption, Third Party,

Minnesota's Governor race in the news, blogs

Gubernatorial candidate Senator Becky Lourey is mentioned today in the Duluth News Tribune in this article by John Myers entitled "Campaigns becoming referendum on Iraq War" :

The war issue even is spilling into state races. DFL gubernatorial candidate Becky Lourey next week is expected to announce her "Minnesota Peace Initiative." The effort is being billed as a way for Minnesotans to use local and statewide opposition to the war to effect change in Washington.

Lourey is challenging DFL-endorsed Mike Hatch in the Sept. 12 primary, with the winner likely to face incumbent Tim Pawlenty. While Pawlenty has had close ties to the Bush administration, neither he nor Hatch have made the war much of an issue.

Part of Lourey's effort will bring anti-war governors together from across the nation, said Jim Robins, Lourey campaign spokesman.

"It (the war) is absolutely an issue, it's the issue, with what's going on in Iraq and with Israel and Hezbollah right now," Robins said. "The U.S. looks absolutely impotent to do anything about it."

Becky Lourey also appeared on KSTP-TV's "At Issue" with Tom Hauser on August 6th (video link).

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Incumbent Governor Tim Pawlenty gets some criticism from State Rep. Tom Rukavina in a letter to the editor in the Ely Timberjay

In cutting nearly $300 million in LGA, Governor Pawlenty and the Republicans didn’t save us from a tax increase. They instead decided to pass the buck to local governments to either cut vital services like police and fire protection or raise property taxes to pay for it. Instead of responsible governing, they balanced the budget on the backs of working Minnesotans through higher property taxes. Unlike income taxes, your property taxes can go up whether you’ve lost your job, gotten a pay cut, or retired. The 2003 cut caused a snowball effect with property taxes. According to the Minnesota House’s independent research office, total statewide property taxes went up by $1.2 billion since 2003 with most of that increase falling on homeowners. They are also expecting property taxes to jump another $685 million next year.

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Attorney General Mike Hatch take some heat from the State Legislative Auditor and others for making mention of his running mate in policy papers wriiten on his state office's letterhead. From an article by Patrick Sweeny in the Pioneer Press :

Last week, Minnesota Republican chairman Ron Carey urged Nobles to investigate Hatch's use of the stationery, plus several reports written by Hatch's attorney general's staff that are posted as "position papers'' on Hatch's gubernatorial Web site.

Nobles said he had contacted staff for both Hatch and Pawlenty and warned them against using state resources in their gubernatorial campaign. But he said he saw no need to launch the bigger investigation Carey sought.

With regard to the July 27 news release in which Hatch mentioned Dutcher, Noble said: "It just seemed to me clear on its face that, if you're going to call something an official statement of the attorney general's office, not a campaign document, you don't make a reference to your running mate."

Bloggers have wondered where Mike Hatch has been, and whether his lack of visibility on the campaign trail is a sign that he may not win the general election if he does survive the primary:

Jeff Fecke writes at Minvolved.com:

The question is not whether Hatch is scraping by, but whether his campaign is well-positioned to sustain a strong challenge to a popular governor, who also happens to be a skilled politician. And I’m not convinced it is.

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Technorati Tags: governor Minnesota Becky Lourey Mike Hatch Tim Pawlenty

DFL Primary candidate for governor at two more events

State Senator Becky Lourey, who is seeking to become the DFL Candidate for Governor (via September 12th primary challenge) will appear at two more high profile events in he coming weeks:

The frst announcement is taken from an e-mail sent by the campaign:

Wonderful Food! Superb Artists! A Great Candidate!
Becky Lourey for Governor Fundraiser

WHEN: Thursday, August 10, 2006, 5:30 to 7:30pm

WHERE:
Café Brenda! at the Atrium
300 First Avenue N, Minneapolis, Minnesota
in the Historic Warehouse District downtown
Phone — 612/342-9230

FEATURED
ARTISTS
INCLUDE:
Aase May, Craig Blacklock, Jane Fisher-Merritt,
Susan Solomon, Rich Solomon, Bonnie Walesko,
Tom Foley, Sharon Vogt, Margaret Webster,
Dee Kataska, CeCeile Hartleib, Sandy Self,
Louise C. Gillis, Brenda Bell Brown, Keith Raivo,
Brian Lundberg, Peggy Lundberg, David Baker,
Miriam Ryan, and many other talented artists

Becky Lourey will give Fiscal Policy speech at Humprey Institute
1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs,
University of Minnesota - West Bank
301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis

Technorati tags: "Becky Lourey" governor Minnesota DFL

Farmfest appearances and debate

All of the candidates for Minnesota Governor were present at Farmfest on Wednesday.

From an article appeariung online at The Duluth News Tribune (Candidate for Governor face off at Farmfest event, by Bill Salsbury):

More than 500 farmers and agribusiness workers waded through muddy fields to hear the spirited debate that featured mostly good-natured give-and-take among Hatch, Hutchinson and Pawlenty. This is the only debate scheduled before the Sept. 12 primary.

LOUREY EXCLUDED

Ironically, the only rural candidate for governor and the only one who has actually operated a farm was barred from participating in the event. State Sen. Becky Lourey of Kerrick, who is running against Hatch in the Sept. 12 DFL primary, was told the forum was open only to candidates who had been endorsed by their parties.

Lourey and her family bought a 240-acre farm in Pine County more than 30 years ago where they raised cattle, goats, sheep and hay. Like many young farmers coping with low commodity prices in the 1970s and early 1980s, they were forced to auction off their animals and equipment to pay off farm debts. They sold the land to finance their successful software business.

In a speech to a sparse crowd before the debate, Lourey said limiting the debate to "city guys" seemed strange. Later, she reminded reporters that Minnesota hasn't had a rural governor for 16 years. Pawlenty and Hatch are both suburbanites, while Hutchinson and Pentel are city guys.

Obviously there should be more debates before the Sept. 12th primary, with no exclusions of candidates to face off in that primary...

Technorati Tags: Minnesota governor debate

Coming events - candidates on the campaign trail

Senator Becky Lourey will appear in the following parades in the next few days:

Tomorrow, August 3rd
Spirit Valley Days Parade
Duluth 5 PM

Saturday, August 5th
Pine County Fair Parade
(line up begins at 2PM on Railroad St. next to Pine Technical College)
Pine City

Sunday, August 6th
Tall Timber Days Parade
(line up begins at 11:30AM)
Grand Rapids

the line up time for these parades are given so supporters can join with campaign and march in the parades with their candidate. Other events for this campaign can be found at: www.beckylourey.org/calendar.html.
No equivalent calendar could be found on the Tim Pawlenty campaign website.

If other candidates have events they would like to post here, they can send event notices to:
nextmngov (at) gmail (dot) com

Technorati Tags: governor Minnesota "Becky Lourey" "Tim Pawlenty" Duluth "Pine City" "Grand Rapids"

MN Governor - the Minnesota's governor's race 2006

We will be following the 2006 MN Governor's race... its bound to be a shocker, as this is the state that elected Jesse Ventura.

More will follow in the bext few days. Speeches, parades, debates and news coverage of the candidates as they travel the state from the shores of Lake Superior to Pipestone, from the Big Woods and the Mississippi Valley to the wide open fields of amber-hued wheat ripening in the Red River Valley.