Horner in Duluth to support governor candidate Johnson

Tom Horner stood on the West First Street steps to Duluth City Hall on Tuesday, stumping for a Republican again. This time, it wasn’t David Durenberger, for whom Horner was once a staffer. Rather, it was Jeff Johnson - challenger to Gov. Mark Dayton in the Nov. 4 election.
A onetime candidate for governor himself, running in 2010 for the Independence Party, Horner explained his return to Republican roots.  
“I call myself a small ‘I’ independent,” he said. “I now have the latitude to support people who will do well. I’m not supporting a Republican because I’ve reverted back; I’m supporting Jeff Johnson.”
He called Johnson the right choice to grow the middle class by working across the aisle to promote well-paying jobs.
“He’s a man of decency and integrity,” said Horner, who was in the midst of touring the state in support of Johnson. “He listens to all perspectives and is willing to explore new ideas.”  
Earlier in the day, Democrats challenged Johnson’s education record as a representative in the state house from 2001-07.
 “When you look at Jeff Johnson’s record on education, parents’ concerns are justified,” DFL Chairman Ken Martin said in a release. “Johnson voted to cut $21 million from early childhood education.”
Horner said Johnson has a comprehensive plan on education that starts with having a stronger emphasis on leadership from principals and teachers, with less reliance on standardized test results. He dismissed Dayton’s education position as “write a bigger check.”
Martin contested the charge.
“This election is about shared values, and Minnesotans value a quality education system,” Martin said. “Gov. Dayton’s record reinforces to parents that their children’s education is his top priority. Having an educated workforce will help Minnesota create and retain jobs and expand the middle class.”