DFLer Thissen in the race for governor

By Dennis Lien

dlien@pioneerpress.com

Updated: 07/23/2009

State Rep. Paul Thissen today officially joined the crowd seeking to replace Tim Pawlenty as Minnesota governor.

Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, made the announcement on the lawn of his South Minneapolis home this morning.

"I am running for governor because we need a leader who is willing to stand up for Minnesota and its extraordinary promise,'' said Thissen, flanked by his wife, three children, parents and dozens of friends and neighbors.

A four-term legislator who filed paperwork for a gubernatorial run in November, the 42-year-old Thissen has focused on health care issues in the Legislature and chairs the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee. He represents District 63A, which covers Richfield and Southwest Minneapolis.

He said he is seeking the DFL endorsement and will abide by the endorsement.

His top priorities would include fixing what he called a broken health care system, renewable energy, adequately funding and reviving public schools and early childhood education, addressing homelessness and the issues of a growing aging population.

Thissen is a Harvard-educated lawyer who also is a partner at the Briggs and Morgan law firm.

Pawlenty's decision not to seek a third term in 2010 has resulted in a big field vying to succeed him.

Other DFLers who've filed a committee with the state's Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board include state Sens. Tom Bakk and John Marty, former state Sen. Steve Kelley, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, frequent candidate Ole Savior, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, and former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza.

Announced Republican candidates are former state Auditor Pat Anderson; former American Party candidate Leslie Davis; state Reps. Tom Emmer, Paul Kohls and Marty Seifert; former Rep. Bill Haas; state Sens. David Hann, Mike Jungbauer and Paul Koering, and former congressional candidate Phil Herwig.

Several others also are poised to enter the field.

Dennis Lien can be reached at 651-228-5588.