The News Tribune missed the mark with its endorsement of Tim Walz for governor ( Our View/Endorsement: "Walz is the leader needed for Minnesota," Oct. 22).
Minnesotans deserve far better than what they have been getting from government these past few years, especially Minnesotans in the northeastern region of the state. The crisis of competence in St. Paul undermines our faith in government. When $100 million in child care subsidies is stolen and sent to Somalia and another $100 million is wasted on a car-registration system that doesn't work, Minnesotans have a right to be skeptical.
I want to bring competence back to government, and I will get the job done on economic development - including mining, logging, and pipelines. All the promises in the world mean nothing if government can't even get the basics right.
I chose Duluth native Donna Bergstrom as my lieutenant governor running mate because I want to ensure that northern Minnesota has a strong voice. For too long liberals in the Twin Cities have given lip service to Greater Minnesota while ignoring its concerns. Gov. Mark Dayton blocked mining and pipelines to appease his liberal base. Expect Walz to do the same.
Far from being a moderate with a record of reaching across the aisle to work with Republicans, Walz has intensely partisan instincts that will not serve this state well. How partisan? Walz votes 94 percent of the time with Minneapolis Congressman Keith Ellison, the DFL candidate for attorney general. And Walz's campaign is predicated on the idea that Dayton was too conservative, not raising taxes and spending enough.
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Minnesota is a special place, and, like you, I want to leave a legacy for my children of a community better off than when we got here. I am asking for your vote to help make that happen.
Jeff Johnson
Plymouth, Minn.
The writer is the Republican candidate for Minnesota governor.
