MDE FROM THE ARCHIVES: KISCADEN PRAISED PAWLENTY AS "STRONGEST CANDIDATE" FOR GOVERNOR
ST. PAUL -- Olmsted County's 61 Republican delegates, mirroring the statewide delegation as a whole, came away from this weekend's GOP state convention united behind the party's endorsed candidate for governor, Tim Pawlenty.
Brian Sullivan's graceful concession speech and his endorsement of Pawlenty helped, as did the camaraderie between southeastern Minnesota delegates, whether they began the convention wearing Pawlenty blue or Sullivan green.
"My feelings are that the Republican Party has united behind the strongest candidate," said Nels Pierson, Olmsted County's GOP co-chair. "I think everyone's pleased with the result."
"There doesn't seem to be any mumbling or crying about," said Rep. Bill Kuisle of Rochester. "Both candidates are class acts ... and we kept it professional."
Strong-arming?
In the first and only public ballot of the gubernatorial endorsement race, 45 of Olmsted County's 61 delegates supported Pawlenty, while 16 voted for Sullivan.
Sullivan supporters say they endured some lobbying by Pawlenty backers throughout 12 rounds of balloting, but that hostile feelings never entered the fray.
"There's always a little arm-twisting and joking, but I didn't feel any pressure (from other delegates) to vote for Pawlenty," said Rochester resident Lori Oliphant, who stuck with Sullivan through all 12 ballots.
A frequent delegate since 1980, Oliphant added, "Then again, I've known these people for 20 years -- someone new might feel differently."
Another staunch Sullivan supporter, Michael Mattingly, also said friendly relations were the rule. Throughout the balloting, Mattingly, who wore a green Sullivan vest, chatted up Rep. Fran Bradley of Rochester, who sported a blue "Team Pawlenty" T-shirt.
"It is my pleasure to support Tim Pawlenty for governor of this state," Mattingly said later. "These men ran hard, they campaigned hard, and in the energy of the campaign they made some mistakes. It's time to put those aside and move on."
Loy Colebeck, a Pawlenty supporter from the start, heaped praise upon her delegation.
"Olmsted County has smart people," she said. "They voted for the best candidate."
Strongest candidate
Southeastern Minnesota legislators will sleep well this weekend -- Pawlenty, their colleague in the House, can now begin his campaign for governor in earnest.
"I'm just delighted," said Sen. Sheila Kiscaden of Rochester. "He's the strongest candidate and he knows how to work with the Legislature."
Rep. Dave Bishop of Rochester said the newly endorsed candidate must now appeal to Minnesota's voters.
"He must persuade the general public that he can represent them," Bishop said. "I know the character of the man and I think he will be a terrific governor." Source: Rochester Post-Bulletin, June 15, 2002
Brian Sullivan's graceful concession speech and his endorsement of Pawlenty helped, as did the camaraderie between southeastern Minnesota delegates, whether they began the convention wearing Pawlenty blue or Sullivan green.
"My feelings are that the Republican Party has united behind the strongest candidate," said Nels Pierson, Olmsted County's GOP co-chair. "I think everyone's pleased with the result."
"There doesn't seem to be any mumbling or crying about," said Rep. Bill Kuisle of Rochester. "Both candidates are class acts ... and we kept it professional."
Strong-arming?
In the first and only public ballot of the gubernatorial endorsement race, 45 of Olmsted County's 61 delegates supported Pawlenty, while 16 voted for Sullivan.
Sullivan supporters say they endured some lobbying by Pawlenty backers throughout 12 rounds of balloting, but that hostile feelings never entered the fray.
"There's always a little arm-twisting and joking, but I didn't feel any pressure (from other delegates) to vote for Pawlenty," said Rochester resident Lori Oliphant, who stuck with Sullivan through all 12 ballots.
A frequent delegate since 1980, Oliphant added, "Then again, I've known these people for 20 years -- someone new might feel differently."
Another staunch Sullivan supporter, Michael Mattingly, also said friendly relations were the rule. Throughout the balloting, Mattingly, who wore a green Sullivan vest, chatted up Rep. Fran Bradley of Rochester, who sported a blue "Team Pawlenty" T-shirt.
"It is my pleasure to support Tim Pawlenty for governor of this state," Mattingly said later. "These men ran hard, they campaigned hard, and in the energy of the campaign they made some mistakes. It's time to put those aside and move on."
Loy Colebeck, a Pawlenty supporter from the start, heaped praise upon her delegation.
"Olmsted County has smart people," she said. "They voted for the best candidate."
Strongest candidate
Southeastern Minnesota legislators will sleep well this weekend -- Pawlenty, their colleague in the House, can now begin his campaign for governor in earnest.
"I'm just delighted," said Sen. Sheila Kiscaden of Rochester. "He's the strongest candidate and he knows how to work with the Legislature."
Rep. Dave Bishop of Rochester said the newly endorsed candidate must now appeal to Minnesota's voters.
"He must persuade the general public that he can represent them," Bishop said. "I know the character of the man and I think he will be a terrific governor." Source: Rochester Post-Bulletin, June 15, 2002
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