photo by Eric Johnson
Minnesota state Senator John Marty opens up the speakers Saturday afternoon during the first Politics in the Pumpkin Patch, held at the farm of Farmer John and Jan Ulland. Marty was among several Democrats who have announced bids to be the next governor of Minnesota.
VIDEO: It's politics at the pumpkin patch
DFL governor hopefuls attend Saturday's event
Published Monday, July 27, 2009
On a warm Saturday evening in Austin, they were all part of Politics in the Pumpkin patch, as 10 DFL gubernatorial candidates came to Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch for an informal meet-and-greet.
The brainchild of state Rep. Robin Brown, DFL-Moscow Township, and her husband, superintendent of the Grand Meadow Independent School District Joe Brown, Politics in the Pumpkin Patch was a new event this year designed to generate grassroots interest in the party and do it in a fun way.
Joe Brown said the event reminded him a bit of the Iowa caucuses, and there was even a straw poll to make that comparison more complete — won by Sen. John Marty of Roseville, who edged former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton by one vote.
“If you wanted to meet 10 candidates, you had that opportunity,” Joe Brown said. “The event was as good as the weather.”
Those 10 candidates come from all over, representing the Twin Cities, the Iron Range and areas in between.
They also have a wide array of experiences — the group consists of a county attorney, two mayors, two state senators, a former state representative, two current state representatives, a former state senator and a former U.S. senator.
And with Gov. Tim Pawlenty announcing that he won’t be running for re-election, the 2010 race figures to be wide open.
Marty said the current health care system needs changing.
“We shouldn’t have to have fundraisers for people who get sick,” he said, a reference to high medical costs.
People like Lenore Fries of Albert Lea were at the pumpkin patch Saturday, attempting to weigh all the candidates and their claims.
Fries said Saturday she hadn’t yet settled on a candidate, but knows she’s looking for an honest candidate who will deal with the state’s budget.
“Our budget is a mess,” she said. “How can (the new governor) fix it?”
Also in attendance was at-large City Council member Janet Anderson.
Anderson said it was exciting to see such an important political event come to Austin.
Like Fries, Anderson said she was still undecided on a candidate.
“I’m still listening, learning,” she said.
Anderson is particularly looking for a governor who can work toward “one Minnesota” through local government aid and other measures, she said.
With roughly 200 people showing up, Joe Brown said Saturday’s event was a success. And with farmer John Ulland saying he’d love to host the event again, plans are already underway for the next Politics in the Pumpkin Patch.
“I guarantee right now, we’ll do this again,” Joe Brown said.
View full story at: Austin Daily Herald