Northfield News column: Are voters ready for another third party governor?

EDITOR'S NOTE: In June 2004 I began a new venture as managing editor of both Northfield News and Faribault Daily News. This column originally appeared in the Northfield News on May 12, 2006.

Are Minnesota voters ready to "shock the world" again? Peter Hutchinson certainly hopes they are. But if you find yourself asking "Who in the world is Peter Hutchinson?" -- you aren't alone. The Independence Party candidate for governor, Hutchinson knows that he's fighting an uphill battle to claim Minnesota's governor race this fall, but he says that goal is obtainable. He admits that many people do not know who he is, even though he has served as a deputy mayor in Minneapolis and as the state finance commissioner under Gov. Rudy Perpich, but adds that just might be his greatest weapon. Unlike the major candidates for governor in the state's major parties, Hutchinson finds it necessary to get "outstate" to communities such as Northfield, as he was this week. And he says that once he can get in front of an audience, many people agree with his message and think to themselves, "This guy isn't crazy." The last statement is a reference to his party status, the Independence Party candidate for governor. And the vast majority of Minnesotans will remember the Independence Party as home to former Gov. Jesse Ventura, which depending upon who you talk to, is remembered for his crazy antics late in his gubernatorial stint. But Hutchinson says once he reminds people about the positive things Ventura did with his campaign and in the early days as governor, and when he reminds them that Tim Penny actually ran as the last notable Independence Party gubernatorial candidate and did respectably well, voters seem to think that Hutchinson's campaign isn't so crazy. And as the guy who's running as the outsider, who couldn't love his message. Because he's not beholden to big-money politics, or to the major parties and their extremist die-hards, he says he's truly the one candidate who if elected can make a difference. "I relish the chance to get this going," he said during a campaign stop at the News. "The people are sick of the political fighting and of being manipulated (by the two big parties and their candidates). I want to set an agenda the people really care about." And those issues aren't the "Five Gs" that currently are used as divisive logjams by the Republicans and DFLers. He says continued partisan bickering over "Guns, Gays, God, Gambling and Gynecology" -- and more recently adding gladiators (sports stadiums) and green cards (immigration) -- does nothing to move the state forward or to improve the quality of life for Minnesotans. "We're really asking people to do something hard ... to get off that dead horse we call our political system," he said. "We have to convince people that change is safer than not changing. Our motto is, Not left, not right, but forward.'" It's a great message isn't? End the politics of politics; legislate for the betterment of the state; rid the electoral system of big money ... Who wouldn't vote for such a change? But is Hutchinson's candidacy really plausible? He's convinced it is because Minnesotans have elected an independent governor five times, including the memorable stint by the feather-boa-wearing pro wrestler. And the Hutchinson team has a four-part plan to make it happen. First, he said a majority of Minnesotans claim to be independents versus belonging to one of the big two parties, so that's thousands of votes to start with. Second, he said he needs to sway Republicans who feel as if their party has left them which is maybe another 9 or 10 percent of the electorate. Third, he has to tap into the large group of young voters who aren't apathetic, but who are just not voting because they're disgusted with the system. And finally, he said after the Democrats hold their convention, there are going to be some party loyalists who migrate away from whomever is endorsed because they can't vote for that person. He needs their votes as well. In all, Hutchinson said if he can capture 900,000 to a million votes, he could be the state's next governor. "I think the math works," he said. "We can see our way to a million votes. " So are Minnesota voters ready to "shock the world" again? Come November, we'll see. -- Devlyn Brooks is managing editor of the Northfield News.