Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner will visit the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph and Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., today on a statewide tour following Horner’s endorsement by the Independence Party last Saturday.

“I’ve been watching the Republican Party devolve with the rise of Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin … in the willingness to pander to the extreme right wing.” — Tom Horner

Tom and his wife Libby Horner will be in the Gorecki Conference Center lobby at the College of Saint Benedict from approximately 11:30 a.m. until shortly after noon to meet and greet members of the campus community, after which they will proceed to Saint John’s University, where they will be in the Refectory from approximately 12:30 to 1 p.m.

In anticipation of Saturday’s Minnesota fishing opener, Horner scheduled his 1:30 p.m. press conference at Stop Light Bait, 45 8th Ave. SE, St. Cloud, just off Highway 10.

Following the press conference, the Horner campaign will travel to Fergus Falls with a stop in Alexandria.
 
For more information about Tom Horner’s campaign for governor, visit www.Horner2010.com.

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UPDATES

Horner Press Conference Photo Chronicle

Tom Horner arrives at Stop Light Bait in St. Cloud for a press conference ahead of Minnesota's fishing opener, May 12, 2010.

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Aubrey Immelman welcomes Tom Horner to St. Cloud for his press conference at Stop Light Bait, May 12, 2010.

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Stop Light Bait owner Laurie Hansen and assistant Jim Postle welcome Tom Horner to their business, May 12, 2010.

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Caroline Beuning (mother of Stop Light Bait owner Laurie Hansen), flanked by Libby and Tom Horner, May 12, 2010.

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Tom Horner at his press conference in St. Cloud after winning the Independence Party of Minnesota's endorsement for governor, May 12, 2010.

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IP Governor Candidate Horner Visits Local Bait Shop

By Frank Lee
St. Cloud Times
May 13, 2010

Excerpts

Tom Horner said he is OK with being a one-term governor if that’s the price of making unpopular decisions.

The gubernatorial candidate from Edina stopped at Stop Light Bait near U.S. Highway 10 in St. Cloud on Wednesday afternoon to talk to local media about running as an Independence Party candidate. He also visited college campuses in Central Minnesota during the campaign swing.

“We’re doing this at fish-and-tackle bait shops around the state to remind people first of all that we have the fishing opener coming up on Saturday but secondly to remind people to be wary of the fish tales coming out of St. Paul these days. Theyre telling some whoppers,” Horner said. …

“The opportunity this year is to elect a governor who can take office next year, bring the best ideas from Republicans and Democrats, and have the courage to come in and say, ‘I will give you political cover. We will fix these problems on a long-term basis,'”  Horner said.

Outside, an American flag was on one side of the entrance and on the other side was a white sign with red lettering that read “People who have a permit to carry are welcomed in the store.” …

“I think that Minnesota needs comprehensive tax reform. Some of that is going to include reducing the taxes, particularly on the kind of taxes that really, really hurt job creation in Minnesota,” said Horner, who believes the sales tax rate should be lowered. …

“The Independence Party has won the governor’s office more recently than the Democratic Party has won the governor’s office. … But I don’t have the personality of Jesse Ventura,” Horner said with a chuckle, referring to the flamboyant former governor.

“He appointed (right after taking the office) what might be the best team any administration ever has had. He appointed Democrats, Republicans, independents — people who were there for their expertise, not for the political favors they were owed — and that was awfully important.”

Read the full story

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IP Gov. Candidate Talks “Fishtales”

By Jim Maurice
WJON.com
May 12, 2010

Excerpts

ST. CLOUD — The Independence Party’s endorsed candidate for Governor stopped at a St. Cloud bait shop today (Wednesday). Tom Horner is traveling around Central Minnesota pulling a fishing boat this weekend, but it’s the fishtales in St. Paul that have his attention.

He says Minnesotans should be outraged that the State Legislature hasn’t solved the state’s current nearly $3 billion deficit, knowing that the problem gets even worse — nearly $7 billion — in the next bienium. …

Horner was a longtime member of the Republican party before switching to the Independence party this year. He has the support of former Republican U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger.

WJON Audio

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6/8/10 Update: Independent Tom Horner rises in polling

Vote 2010 Minnesota Governor’s Race

Poll Shows DFLers Ahead of Emmer

By Bill Salisbury
Pioneeer Press
June 8, 2010

Excerpts

All three leading Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates for governor hold firm leads over Republican endorsee Tom Emmer, a new statewide poll shows.

Decision Resources Ltd., of Minneapolis, conducted the survey of 800 Minnesota adults May 28-June 2. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. …

Tom Horner, the Independence Party’s endorsed candidate for governor, finished third in all three trial heats, receiving 17 percent to 19 percent of the vote.

Minnesotans apparently think their state is in worse condition than the nation. Fifty-nine percent said Minnesota is “off on the wrong track,” while 48 percent said that of the country.

A whopping 92 percent agreed that “state government spends too much time arguing and not enough time solving problems.” By 53 percent to 42 percent, a majority said they are starting to believe “the problem is not with one political party, but it is with all incumbents.”

Based on those responses, Morris said, “People are fed up with partisan gridlock, and they’re looking for alternatives.”

In another sign of voter cynicism, the poll found three out of four respondents think elected officials are more likely to listen to their favorite lobbyists and special interest groups than their constituents. …

The poll suggested Minnesotans are evenly split on the traditional hot-button social issues:

The “tea party” has yet to catch fire in Minnesota, the poll showed. Twenty percent of respondents supported the anti-big-government movement, while 74 percent did not.

But 39 percent considered themselves conservatives, 36 percent said they were moderates and 23 percent identified themselves as liberals.

The political party breakdown was 39 percent Democratic, 32 percent Republican, 2 percent Independence Party and 24 percent independents.

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Related reports on this site

Vote Tom Horner Aug. 10 Primary (Aug. 2, 2010)

Horner 2010 Gains Momentum (July 19, 2010)

Horner Campaign at Granite City Parade (June 26, 2010)

Tom Horner Rises in the Polls (June 8, 2010)

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — May 12, 2009

Wilburn C. Russell, 73, wipes his eyes after talking to reporters in front of the house his son U.S. Army Sgt. John Russell purchased in Sherman, Texas. (Photo credit: LM Otero / AP)

GI Opens Fire on U.S. Troops in Iraq

One-year retrospective: One year ago today, I reported that U.S. Army Sgt. John M. Russell shot and killed five fellow soldiers at a counseling center at Camp Liberty in Iraq. Killed were Cmdr. Charles Keith Springle, 52, a Navy military psychologist from Beaufort, N.C.; Maj. Matthew Houseal, 54, an Army reservist and psychiatrist from Amarillo, Texas; Army Sgt. Christian E. Bueno-Galdos, 25, of Paterson, N.J.; Spc. Jacob D. Barton, 20, of Lenox, Mo.; and Pfc. Michael E. Yates Jr., 19, of Federalsburg, Md.