Rukavina files gubernatorial paperwork

[Mister Ed]

http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/diary/3642/rukavina-files-gubernatorial-paperwork

Anyone have any insights on Tom Rukavina as a gubernatorial prospect? All I know about him is that I've liked what he's had to say in interviews I've read in the paper or heard on the radio.

[scarletwoman]

1. I really like the guy, have no idea how well he'd do as a guv candidate.

I can't say that I've followed his legislative history closely, I mostly know him through speeches he's given at DFL events, and the occasional sound bite from legislative sessions. He seems to be a good old fashioned people-first Farmer-Laborite. And I think it would be great to have a governor from the Iron Range!

sw

[dflprincess]

2. I don't know much about him - but I would trust SW's jugement

and I could get behind someone who really leaned more toward the FL, rather than the D.

[scarletwoman]

3. Thanks! Rukavina is smart as a whip, and can be funny as hell.

He's someone who doesn't suffer fools gladly and has always seemed to me to be fiercely protective of his constituents.

He's really a hoot when he's on a tear about some of the stupid bullshit that his fellow politicos come up with. We could do much worse than Rukavina -- he was good friends with Paul Wellstone, too.

sw

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. And not being from the Twin Cities would be a real plus

in rural areas, too, I should think.

[Minnesota Raindog]

5. But like most Iron Range politicians, he'd be bad for the environment

And even though he is capable of making some good points from time to time (medical marijuana and other legislation that law enforcement hates), he's also capable of some real dumb ideas too (requirement that American flags sold in Minnesota be made in America is the latest). He definitely does not have the temperment to be governor. He'd be worse than Ventura in that department. But he'd make the governor's race interesting, if nothing else. Not that the DFL is lacking candidates or anything...