Waiting for Tim Pawlenty to announce his 2010 intentions. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that he would not seek a third term.
"Serving this great state has been the great honor of my life. I’m profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve the wonderful people of Minnesota.
My administration has made a major, positive difference for Minnesota. We developed and deployed the best support programs for members of the military, their families and veterans in the country. We led the nation in developing a cleaner, more secure and more America-based energy future. We led the nation in education reform and results, have been nation-leading in redesigning and improving health care and much more.
And importantly, we imposed some much-needed discipline on government in this state by keeping a lid and taxes and spending. We even succeeded in achieving the long-standing goal of moving Minnesota out of the top ten states in taxes.
But, being Governor should not be a permanent position for someone.
With length of service in public office, a little less is always better than a little too much. It’s a lesson I learned spending time in places like the Croatian Hall in South Saint Paul, where there is inevitably less joy and more trouble in too much pizza or too much beer. We don’t have term limits in Minnesota, but we do have good judgment and common sense. We are a government of laws and ideas, not personalities.
Be assured, though, that I will make the most of the nineteen months left in the term Minnesotans have given me. I will continue to spend every day doing what’s right for them. Minnesota will get my very best until I’m done. There is much important and difficult work remaining, and I will tackle it aggressively and finish strong.
The Scriptures say “there is a time for every purpose”. For me, the purpose of the next nineteen months will be to do the very best I can for Minnesota."
