The next governor of Minnesota will face major challenges, because the state is projected to have a $3 billion deficit next year.
He will have to work with a Legislature with many new members, a House most likely dominated by Republicans and a Senate where Democrats most likely will have the majority.
He will have to be a healer of a legislative process that was wounded by Governor Jesse Ventura, and he will have to possess the skills to work through the politics to broker effective solutions.
Largely because the last Legislature did little to solve problems and fix the long-term budget deficit, the new Governor will face two tremendous challenges affecting this Twin Cities Metropolitan Area: funding K-12 and higher education and funding badly needed transportation projects.
This position will require an inspiring leader, someone with good communication and political skills, who is willing to listen, weigh thoughtfully all of the options including raising taxes, flexible and respected by leaders on both sides of the aisle.
While all four candidates have excellent qualifications, In our judgment the man who can best lead the state for the next four difficult years is Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, who is endorsed by the DFL Party.
Moe has valuable experience in state government, having served 10 terms as a state senator.
He gets along with other legislators and finds compromises, as evidenced by his being elected Senate Majority Leader for 23 years.
While some see him as an over-the-hill candidate, we see his experience as valuable for a session that will require the experience of a leader who has been through the difficult process of trimming a budget and raising taxes to safeguard important services for the people.
Moe has made funding of K-12 education his number one priority, and has vowed to fund important highway and transit projects. He is a supporter of commuter rail and light rail as well as highways and bus systems.
While Moe would look for places to reorganize government and trim the budget, he will raise taxes if necessary to protect services vital to vulnerable citizens. He is looking toward the future and willing to develop solutions to long-range problems.
Tim Penny is a close second for the endorsement. Penny, former state senator and congressman, has an array of political skills and insights. He promises to be an innovator and to bring both political parties together. He, too, would support K-12 and higher education, and he would work to find creative solutions to the transportation problem, including the support of commuter rail.
He would look for new ways to streamline government and to restrict spending, but he also would be willing to look at raising taxes.
The tri-partisan model of government, however, has not worked well, particularly in the last session when Governor Jesse Ventura ridiculed legislators. While Penny has the leadership skills, knowledge and willingness to work with both parties in a three-party government, there’s little reason to believe this model will be more effective than the two-party system of decision making.
Tim Pawlenty, House Majority Leader, is another articulate, bright, knowledgeable leader who more clearly represents the conservative point of view. Pledged to not raise any taxes, it is difficult to believe the huge deficit can be handled without providing new sources of revenue. While Pawlenty would only "slow the growth" of spending in state government, he would squeeze the funds from other departments to balance the budget. This could result in programs being cut that serve the most vulnerable in our state.
Ken Pentel ably represents the point of view of the Green Party and its concerns about preserving lakes and streams and protecting the environment. He has the qualifications to run for the office of a state legislator.
Minnesota is fortunate to have four excellent candidates running for this important office. Roger Moe’s experience and demonstrated leadership qualify him to be Minnesota’s next governor. — An editorial opinion of the ECM Editorial Board
