News Release

News Release: Governor Pawlenty may face September primary challenge

No New Texas!

Governor Pawlenty may face September primary challenge

Contact: Robert S. Carney Jr., bob@RepublicanContract.com

(612) 824-4479 News groups: Daily; Law/Politics, College, Neighborhood

For immediate release

Minneapolis, MN, May 9, 2006 – Last Saturday, May 6th, on the floor of the 5th District Republican convention, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty was given a copy of a Republican Governor's Contract with Voters, and told he will face a Republican primary opponent if he does not agree to most or all of it. "I'll read it," Governor Pawlenty said..

The Republican Governor's Contract is being promoted at the RepublicanContract.com web site, operated by Bob Carney Jr., a 5th District alternate delegate to both the District and the State Republican convention, who gave the contract to Governor Pawlenty. "My goal is to move the Republican party in a more moderate direction, and to encourage some rethinking about what a Republican form of Government is, and what the appropriate roles of each branch are," Carney said. A Republican State Legislator's Contract with Voters is also being promoted at the site. Carney recently ran a modest newspaper and on-line advertising campaign recruiting Republican candidates for Governor, based on the contract.

On April 19th, Carney delivered an open letter to Governor Pawlenty's office, seeking to start a dialogue on the Governor's Contract. A copy of the letter is at the end of this news release. "I'm encouraged that Governor Pawlenty will be reading and considering the contract," Carney said. "This represents a step forward in the campaign."

Carney's position is that if Governor Pawlenty agrees to all, or substantially all of the Republican Governor's Contract, Carney will stop recruiting other Republican candidates, and will seek a State House seat in District 60B. "However, if Governor Pawlenty has significant disagreements with the Contract, I think it is appropriate to take these to the voters in the Republican primary," Carney said. "If I can't find someone else to run based on the contract, I'll do it," Carney said.

Carney will be on the floor at the Republican State Convention, passing out copies of the Governor's Contract, and talking about both contracts with delegates.

Carney will also be at the State Capital Wednesday and Thursday of this week, available to meet with representatives of the media.

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Robert S. Carney Jr.
4232 Colfax Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 824-4479 * bob@RepublicanContract.com

April 19, 2006

Governor Tim Pawlenty                                 Delivered personally -- This is an open letter; it will
Office of the Governor, 130 State Capitol         be published and distributed to news organizations
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155                                         No New Texas!

Re Minnesota Republican Governor's Contract with Voters; Provisional Candidacy

Dear Governor Pawlenty:

I am advocating both a Minnesota Republican Governor's Contract with Voters, and a Minnesota Republican State Legislator's Contract with Voters. Copies of both contracts are enclosed. The common focus is on the role of each branch of government in a Republican form of government. My emphasis is on the Legislature as the pre-eminent branch of a Republican form of Government -- both responsible and best suited for lawmaking, policy, and oversight. More information on what I am doing is on-line at my web site: RepublicanContract.com

Regarding the Republican Governor's Contract with Voters, (the “Governor's Contract”) it seems clear that you have not followed some of the provisions in your first term. However, times and circumstances change. On the one hand, I don't see why you might not be agreeable to commit to most or all of these provisions during a second term. On the other hand, I think both during and before your current term there has been a significant breakdown in both the Legislative process, and in how the Governor's office, other Constitutional offices, and the Legislature work together. If you significantly differ with the Governor's Contract, I think it is appropriate to take the differences to voters in the Republican primary.

Here is what I plan to do.

First, I will seek to engage in a dialogue with you, initially through someone you designate, to discuss your view on each of the points in the Governor's Contract.

Second, I will continue to recruit Republican candidates for both the State Legislature, and provisionally for the office of Governor, based on agreement with the two Contracts.

Third, if you agree to substantially all of the provisions of the Governor's Contract, I plan to stop recruiting Republican candidates for Governor. I will run for the State House in District 60B

Fourth, if you do not agree with substantially all of the provisions of the Governor's Contract, I plan to continue to recruit a candidate to challenge you in the Republican primary, and to challenge you myself if I am unable to recruit anyone else.

As suggested above, since this effort is new and relatively unpublicized, it would be appropriate at least initially for me to talk with someone you designate. I would welcome the opportunity to do so. I only want to involve you personally when you receive advice from subordinates, Legislators and/or others that the time is right.

Also enclosed is my article advancing an alternative Constitutional Amendment to the “marriage amendment.” Senator Neuville has read this, and discussed it with me, and I think it's fair to say he was favorably impressed with the approach. It may be a preferable option, given that the current “marriage amendments” seem unlikely to win the Senate's approval.

Sincerely,

Bob Carney Jr.

enclosures