JOHNSON FOR GOVERNOR?
The idea of running for governor has floated around Dean Johnson for the last decade.
The talk has heated up this year, as the Senate majority leader faced off with Gov. Tim Pawlenty over the state budget in a session that just ended a week ago.
But if Johnson is planning to run for governor in 2006, he’s keeping it to himself, at least for now. In fact, he’s become an expert at avoiding the question.
Asked if he would like to sit in the governor’s chair, he chuckled last week and said, "I took a couple twirls around in it the last couple weeks when he wasn’t looking."
The chair was comfortable, but he’d need to lower the seat a bit, because Pawlenty is taller, he said. When the Capitol press corps asks him about running, he tells them, "I’m too short."
If you can get him to speak seriously about the idea, he will admit that “I think there’s some things that can be offered to the public.”
Johnson said he believes the state needs a more moderate governor who could “bring Minnesota together” and build consensus.
“It doesn’t have to be Dean Johnson, it could be anybody,” he said. However if it were to be him, “I would not have to change my political stripes.”
Johnson quickly turned the talk of running for governor to talk about Senate District 15.
At this point, he said, he’s not sure he’ll run for re-election to the Senate next year, either, but there’s still one legislative session left before the election.
Johnson enjoys being majority leader and believes a district can be aided by a lawmaker in a leadership role.
When he looks at the development of Ridgewater College over the past 25 years, for example, he’s proud of the role he’s played in that at the Legislature, he said.
“I’m still challenged by the job,” he said. Source: West-Central Tribune, July 25, 2005
The talk has heated up this year, as the Senate majority leader faced off with Gov. Tim Pawlenty over the state budget in a session that just ended a week ago.
But if Johnson is planning to run for governor in 2006, he’s keeping it to himself, at least for now. In fact, he’s become an expert at avoiding the question.
Asked if he would like to sit in the governor’s chair, he chuckled last week and said, "I took a couple twirls around in it the last couple weeks when he wasn’t looking."
The chair was comfortable, but he’d need to lower the seat a bit, because Pawlenty is taller, he said. When the Capitol press corps asks him about running, he tells them, "I’m too short."
If you can get him to speak seriously about the idea, he will admit that “I think there’s some things that can be offered to the public.”
Johnson said he believes the state needs a more moderate governor who could “bring Minnesota together” and build consensus.
“It doesn’t have to be Dean Johnson, it could be anybody,” he said. However if it were to be him, “I would not have to change my political stripes.”
Johnson quickly turned the talk of running for governor to talk about Senate District 15.
At this point, he said, he’s not sure he’ll run for re-election to the Senate next year, either, but there’s still one legislative session left before the election.
Johnson enjoys being majority leader and believes a district can be aided by a lawmaker in a leadership role.
When he looks at the development of Ridgewater College over the past 25 years, for example, he’s proud of the role he’s played in that at the Legislature, he said.
“I’m still challenged by the job,” he said. Source: West-Central Tribune, July 25, 2005
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