Minnesota Gubernatorial E-Debate - Oct. 2006

We are starting off with opening statements from the candidates. Three of the candidates used the video option we encouraged making this the first candidate debate in history to start on YouTube.

You may view all of the opening statements at once by selecting “Opening” on the right.

Or view them individually:

• Tim Pawlenty - Republican
• Mike Hatch - Democratic-Farmer-Labor
• Peter Hutchinson - Independence
• Ken Pentel - Green
• Leslie Davis - American Party
• Walt Brown - Quit Raising Taxes Party

Read on and let others and the candidates know what you think through Voters Voices.

Steven Clift
E-Debate Host

P.S. I’ve attached a video greeting with details on the e-debate to the initial “welcome to the e-debate” message.

Governor Pawlenty is sharing his opening statement via video. - E-Debate Host

Related Links:

Campaign Website - www.timpawlenty.com
Contact Campaign -

Thank you for the opportunity to debate in a uniquely 21st Century format. The Internet allows anyone with access to participate in almost any forum and from there to build community and share information.

I believe in a Minnesota with a solid middle class; with students and workers who are well-educated, who are able to compete for jobs in the global economy, and who have access to good health care.

I believe in a Minnesota that creates an environment in which citizens can prosper. We should have excellence in schools, clean water, affordable and accessible health care, clean air, good roads, and a safe place to conduct our business and raise our families.

Unfortunately, Governor Pawlenty has taken our state in the wrong direction:

• He promised “No New Taxes,” but passed on one billion dollars in new property taxes, two billion dollars in user fees, and three hundred million dollars in higher tuition costs (using the Republican Party accountant who multiples an annual tax by four years, that amounts to 13.2 billion dollars).
• He will cause our children’s future to suffer by allowing Minnesota to rank 49th in the nation in computer technology in the classroom. Education Week graded Minnesota a “D” in its 2006 School Technology Report Card.
• He could have created more accountability and affordability in our broken health care system, but declined to follow any of the 75 recommended changes in the Attorney General’s audits of Minnesota’s health care institutions.

I will lead Minnesota differently:

• I’ll roll back public university and college tuition. You can hold me to it.
• I’ll hold the line on property taxes by not cutting local government aid. You can hold me to it.
• I’ll increase our commitment for all-day kindergarten and K-12 computer technology. You can hold me to it.
• I’ll cut waste out of our health care system. You can hold me to it.

Above all, I want state government to preserve and expand the middle class. We will do everything we can to make a better state for the next generation.

Over the next two weeks, I look forward to discussing how we position Minnesota as a leader in the global economy, and make it better for the generations that succeed us.

Related Links:

Campaign Website - www.hatch2006.org
Contact Campaign -

Peter Hutchinson is sharing his opening statement via video. - E-Debate Host

Related Links:

Candidate Website - www.teamMN.com
Ask Indie - www.askindie.com
Contact Campaign -

Ken Pentel is sharing his opening statement via video. - E-Debate Host

Related Links

Candidate Website - www.kenpentel.org
Contact Campaign - www.kenpentel.org/contact.php

It’s an honor to run for governor of Minnesota and be on the November 7th ballot.

Many people are counting on me to win. Henry the bus driver. George the business owner. Colleen the administrator. Karla the nurse. I must win.

People are beginning to stop me in the street and in the grocery store…are you Leslie Davis? Are you the Earth Protector? Are you the guy running for governor? Are you the guy with the tv show? Are you the guy with the big bus? Do you drive it yourself? More and more each day. I’m certain there’s enough time until Nov. 7th for everyone in Minnesota to know who I am and what I stand for. I can win it….and I will. I must.

My Big 4 Plan is dynamic and paradigm shifting.

ENVIRONMENT. My “Water Plan” will require commercial and industrial users of publicly owned underground water to pay 2 pennies per gallon, thus raising new revenue of two billion dollars annually.

MONEY. Build a state-of-the-art transportation system without debt or taxes, by passing a law requiring state-chartered banks to create the money to pay for it.

EDUCATION. Evaluate all students to assure proper placement. Expand trade, vocational, commercial, home and internet schooling.

CRIME. Stop the drug war to reduce crime and save billions of dollars. Release all non-violent drug possession prisoners fpr training and mentoring. Treat drug use as a health matter not a criminal matter.

I and my running mate, Gregory K. Soderberg, U.S. Marine, Vietnam combat-wounded veteran from Austin, Minnesota, are mature, experienced, smart and strong with great workable ideas, stamina and a compelling willingness to serve all the people…again.

Related Links:

Campaign Website - www.lesliedavis.org
Contact Campaign -

Hello, I am Walt E. Brown, your “Quit Raising Taxes” Party candidate for governor of Minnesota. I am grateful to E-Democracy.org and the Blandin Foundation for giving me the opportunity to participate in these debates. Very few organizations have the courage and genuine kindness to offer a minor candidate like myself a platform for sharing ideas and policy positions on an equal basis with the major candidates. The citizens of Minnesota ought to take notice and enthusiastically applaud their efforts.

I am a concerned Minnesota citizen from Detroit Lakes. I am a business man and a campaign consultant with a legal background. I am family friendly and education minded. I have a lovely wife, Janice, who is a nurse and property manager and mother of our three teenage daughters and nine year old son. Also, Janice will be having our fifith child any day. These days are exciting!

My newly formed party speaks volumes regarding my political ideaology and policy positions. Quit Raising Taxes. Politicians from all parties have neglected their responsibilities when it comes to the genuine needs of Minnesotans. Sportsmen, homeowners, businessmen and farmers alike can easily recognize that our taxes are constantly and needlessly being raised. The raising of fees, permits and licenses is the raising of taxes. I am asking the citizens of Minnesota to join me in sending a message to St. Paul by voting Walt E. Brown for governor - that message is “Quit Raising Taxes.”

Thank you, and may God grant you wisdom and grace in your voting decisions.

Related Links:

Candidate E-mail -

From Monday, October 9th through Thursday, October 19th the candidates for Minnesota Governor are debating exclusively online. Unlike an in-person debate, there is no scarcity of space on our stage. You get to decide who to view - anywhere, any time democracy at its best. Each week we will have two major themes with responses and rebuttals in the morning and each afternoon we will share a total of 10 candidate responses to short answer questions.

I’m Steven Clift, the host of the E-Debate, and I’d like to welcome the following candidates to the e-debate stage for their opening statements.

Welcome candidates …

• Governor Tim Pawlenty, Republican Party
• Attorney General Mike Hatch, DFL Party
• Peter Hutchinson, Independence Party
• Ken Pentel, Green Party
• Leslie Davis, American Party
• Walt Brown, Quit Raising Taxes Party

You’ve been given the option to provide your opening statement via an up to 4 minute video on YouTube or text. Thank you for being a part of the world’s first candidate debate launched with Internet video (via YouTube).

For those reading via the website, the most recent post is always listed on top (we are using blog software). Those reading via e-mail will need to click through to watch any videos or listen to any of the future rebuttals (should any come in via our optional telephone call-in number). On the right hand side of the website, posts will be sorted by candidate and question.

A big thanks goes out to the Blandin Foundation for helping co-sponsor this debate and their Broadband Initiative for the funding required to pull this off. You’ll notice a unique mix of general interest and Internet-related questions through out the debate.

So let’s get started!

Steven Clift
E-Debate Host

P.S. With each response we will rotate the order of the candidates. Also, here is my video welcoming you to the e-debate:

This is unedited proof that anyone can grab their webcam and record something to share via Voter Voices using YouTube and the simple tag “mnpolitics” to make it easy to find. ]