Commentary; Posted: 6/26/02

Ventura's decision has mixed blessings

Jesse Venturaís decision not to run again for Governor of Minnesota is a mixed blessing for the residents of the state.

He championed a program that most Minnesotans agreed with, but he let his personal style, self-absorption, battles with the Legislature and the media get in the way of getting it done.

To his credit, Ventura accomplished a sweeping tax reform package that reduces the reliance of taxes on business and makes Minnesota more attractive to entrepreneurs. He made life better for the elderly, strengthened law enforcement and increased funding for housing.

Ventura worked hard to fund education and transportation, two priorities in suburban communities.

He, along with the Legislature, changed the ways schools are financed, and in the first legislative term of his career he succeeded in winning a substantial increase in funding for public education. That increase to his dismay went more to pay for salaries and benefits than to develop new programs for students.

As was his style during the second year, he retaliated with minimal new money for the educational system. His outspoken and ill-timed views on school accountability regarding promotional materials put out by the Osseo School District, some say, helped defeat badly needed levy referendums in a number of suburban communities.

Ventura and his staff put together a multi-modal transportation package with an emphasis on all forms of transportation including light rail and commuter rail.

A stubborn Legislature, particularly a tight-fisted group of House Republicans, fought the package down, resulting in very little for future transportation projects. It was a major blow to commuters.

Much is said about his relationship with the media. His relationship with ECM Publishers, Inc. was excellent. He granted ECM newspapers interviews, was open to candid photos being taken during interviews and was always responsive to our reportersí demands.

His other diversions, the books, the bobble head dolls, the TV announcing of a now defunct professional football league and appearances on professional wrestling shows and soap operas detracted from his ability to get legislation passed.

They did not, however, keep him from governing Minnesota. He put together a strong cast of commissioners and he let them administer without interference.

This governor made laudable judicial appointments through a process which excluded cronyism. He was accessible to the public who for the most part liked his ability to govern.

He fought with legislators and particularly irked them when he tried to eliminate their jobs through trying to get a unicameral legislative initiative on the ballot. In the end he had no currency with the Legislature, which resulted in a standoff and little accomplished.

Ventura has changed the political landscape in Minnesota. Minnesotans, in electing him, were tired of business as usual, of the political gridlock, of back-room politics and deal making and of voting lockstep with political partiesí dictates.

Jesse Ventura was elected because voters saw him as one of them, fighting for their interests, not the partyís, and not having to answer to big money or big politics.

His election served notice to all those running for future offices. Unless voters see leadership, statesmanship, and concern for the common person in their candidates, they will turn again to an independent candidate ó Don Heinzman

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