TPaw Endorses Jeff Johnson

Governor Pawlenty has endorsed Representative Jeff Johnson for next year's Attorney General race.

“Jeff Johnson will make an excellent attorney general for Minnesota,” Pawlenty said. “I worked closely with Jeff in the House and have seen the quality of his work and his character. I know the Attorney General’s Office under his leadership will be focused on the protection and betterment of Minnesotans, not on politics. I’m proud to say that Jeff is also a personal friend and I’m proud to announce today that I am an enthusiastic supporter of his campaign for attorney general.”

As am I. After eight years of Mike Hatch's grandstanding and partisan sniping (of which more in an upcoming post), it'll be good to have someone in the AGO who wants to actually go after criminals, as opposed to feather his cronies' nests.

While nobody cares about my endorsement - and justifiably so - I'm going to agree with the governor; I firmly support Jeff Johnson for Attorney General, and I urge every Minnesota Republican - and every non-Republican who cares about ethics and the proper role of government - to do the same.

The thought of Matt Entenza as AG for the State of Minnesota should make your blood run cold.

Full press release below the fold.

The entire news release:

With the 2006 election just over a year away, Governor Tim Pawlenty today officially endorsed state Representative Jeff Johnson, R-Plymouth, for Minnesota attorney general.

“Jeff Johnson will make an excellent attorney general for Minnesota,” Pawlenty said. “I worked closely with Jeff in the House and have seen the quality of his work and his character. I know the Attorney General’s Office under his leadership will be focused on the protection and betterment of Minnesotans, not on politics. I’m proud to say that Jeff is also a personal friend and I’m proud to announce today that I am an enthusiastic supporter of his campaign for attorney general.”

Pawlenty is the latest Minnesota Republican leader to publicly endorse Johnson’s campaign, which he launched in February. Johnson also has the backing of:

• Ninety of the state’s 97 Republican legislators, including House Speaker Steve Sviggum, House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen and Senate Minority Leader Dick Day.
• The last four Minnesota Republican Party chairmen: Ron Ebensteiner, Bill Cooper, Chris Georgacas and Bob Weinholzer.
• Republican Party of Minnesota National Committeeman Brian Sullivan, who is serving as co-chair of the Johnson for Attorney General Finance Committee.
• Republican Party of Minnesota National Committeewoman Evie Axdahl.
• The last three Republican-endorsed candidates for Minnesota attorney general: Tom Kelly, Charlie Weaver and state Senator Tom Neuville, along with the last elected Republican Minnesota attorney general, Douglas Head.
• Congressman Jim Ramstad.
• Former Minnesota Governor Al Quie, the honorary chairman of Johnson’s campaign.
• Hundreds of Republican activists and party leaders throughout the state of Minnesota.

“I am honored to have Governor Pawlenty’s support,” Johnson said. “I share his values, admire him as a leader and person and look forward to campaigning with him.”

Johnson, 38, serving in his third term in the Minnesota House, is an assistant majority leader and chairman of the Civil Law & Elections Committee. Outside of the Capitol, Johnson is a small business owner and a private-practice attorney, specializing in employment law. He lives in Plymouth with his wife, Sondi, and their two sons.

Kick ass, Jeff.

Posted by Mitch at October 21, 2005 12:11 PM | TrackBack