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Speculation about the 2010 gubernatorial field has included up to a dozen high-profile names on the DFL ledger.
What's one more between political acquaintances?
Paul Thissen is trying to be more than just another name on the endorsement ballot. He's served as the State Representative for district 63A (Richfield and part of Minneapolis) since 2002, and recently announced that he would seek the DFL endorsement for Governor in 2010, and I sat down with him last week to discuss his bid.
In the Legislature, Thissen's biggest focus has been on Health Care policy, serving on the Health and Human Services committee and building a taste for the often incomprehensible world of health care-related legislation. He said he's been fairly successful focusing legislatively on core issues like health care: "that's what people are talking about, rather than social issues. People are looking for not just talk about transportation, health care, good jobs, economic development - you need to be able to deliver on solutions, and be able to at least talk with people who disagree with you.
"The Governor of Minnesota really needs to be focused on building institutions and policies that last."
I came away with a solid first impression - Thissen knows his stuff on health care and tax policy, but knows that too much policy and not enough simple-but-intelligent conversation between equals can turn voters off.
More after the break |
| I asked Thissen about the massive impending budget deficit when the Legislature returns to St. Paul next month. He agreed that it didn't look pretty. "There are lots of things we need to do - but not just spending money for spending's sake. We need to invest in broadband infrastructure, bringing properties up to code, in transportation, and quickly. We need to prioritize in the budget the things that will help people make it through this crisis. And aside from easing the pain of a recession, we need to be putting policies in place that avoid this in the future - policies like reconfiguring the tax system for a new economy. There needs to be discussion about broadening and lowering the sales tax so it will grow more predictably... We're simply not going to be able to raise taxes enough to cover this deficit."
On the campaign, Rep. Thissen acknowledged that there are many voices already in the gubernatorial arena, but said the DFL "needs to put up a candidate who speaks to all parts of the state. If Tim Pawlenty runs, then it's very much going to be a referendum on him and his record. If he doesn't, then the Republicans have a lot of soul-searching to do as far as which wing gets their candidate - if there are two wings anymore...that's a harder question to answer."
Thissen enters a field that's likely to include figures from all over the state. State Sen. Tom Bakk of Virginia is already in, and House Speaker and St. Paul Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher's name keeps popping up. Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner has been involved already, and statewide figures like former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza and former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton are making noise.
Nevertheless, Thissen was frank about his role in the race as a Metro-area legislator: "We've been too distant. I've gotten outside the Twin Cities, and it's rare that TC legislators get out to greater Minnesota - it does empower people to be able to talk with people from other parts of the state. That's also a model for governing and selling the kinds of needs, investments we need to make, and having a real conversation about important issues like health care reform, taxes..."
He said that there are advantages and disadvantages to running as a sitting legislator: "you get to show your work, how you deliver results and move forward on things you're talking about on the campaign trail, but right now I'm trying to be deliberate about being the Representative for 63A, and separating out legislative work from the campaign. It's a disadvantage because it's time you can't spend campaigning, but an advantage because you're involved, and you can show how you'd operate in a different office."
Although the campaign is obviously in its nascent stage right now, Thissen said he and his advisors are working out a strategy for the DFL endorsement, and his website is live and includes interactive features like an Idea Board, where people can offer input on various issues. Check it out. |
