ST. PAUL -- Ken Pentel rode to his governor campaign announcement in a minivan, something out of character for the Green Party activist.
He traveled in the van for a while, but now borrows a car that uses a combination of electricity and gasoline as power.
Pentel tells farmers they should have smaller farms and businessmen that they need to look at a new way to measure success other than growth. He doesn't worry about who is audience is; he just tells it like he sees it.
The 41-year-old Minneapolis man faces long odds in the Minnesota governor's race. While Roger Moe, Tim Penny and Tim Pawlenty have been locked in a dead heat for months, Pentel has quietly sat in the back of the pack, not getting even 5 percent support in the polls.
But more than two dozen debates have provided him with visibility.
ADVERTISEMENT
With the slogan "Refreshingly clean politics," Pentel is a different candidate.
For instance, his solution to transportation problems is to redesign communities so workers live within walking or biking distance to work.
Pentel also says gasoline should be taxed not just by the gallon, but based on the damage it causes to Minnesota's environment.
Pentel got involved in politics -- an abrupt change from the acting career he expected -- when he heard of children and the elderly being warned to stay indoors because of poor California air quality. From there, he began protesting nuclear power plants, saying they are unsafe.
He returned from California to his native Minnesota to work for Greenpeace, doing things such as organizing volunteers and lobbying in the Capitol for 11 years.
In 1996, Pentel became involved in the Ralph Nader campaign for president, and headed the Minnesota effort in 2000. In between, he ran a low-key Green Party campaign for governor in 1998.
Pentel lives in Minneapolis.
Other governor candidates on the Nov. 5 ballot are:
ADVERTISEMENT
- Lawrence Aeshliman, 46, Eden Prairie. The self-employed construction worker belongs to the Constitution Party and says he is pro-God and pro-family. He would end abortions and cut the size of government.
- Booker T. Hodges IV, 25, Minneapolis. He is executive director of New Directions Youth Ministry and is a former College Democrats officer. He is running as an independent.
- Kari Sachs, 37, St. Paul. The meat packer is running under the Socialist Workers Party banner. She ran for New Jersey governor last year and for St. Paul mayor in 1993.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Don Davis at (651) 290-0707
