Jun 2, 2009 5:44 pm US/Central
The Times Of Gov. Tim Pawlenty
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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Governor Pawlenty, with First Lady Mary Pawlenty, caught a 17-inch walleye on the north end of Pelican Lake at the Governor's 60th Annual Fishing Opener. (File)
Office Of Gov. Tim Pawlenty
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Tuesday he won't seek a third term in 2010, but the man widely regarded as a 2012 GOP presidential contender declined to talk about his political future.
He still has about a year and a half left on his current term, but here's a look back at some of his career highlights so far:
• The son of a truck driver was first elected as governor in 2002.
• In 2003, he went to Bosnia to talk with Minnesota troops.
• Not many in this state will forget our eight-day, government shutdown in 2005. Pawlenty's no-tax-hike policy didn't sit well with the DFL Party.
• Pawlenty has had to deal with many obstacles during his six years in office.
In 2006, he helped to broker a deal between Northwest Airlines and its flight attendants.
• Pawlenty also had to deal with one of the largest deficits in Minnesota history. At the time he said, "It is not time for hysteria. It is time for strategic thinking about how to proceed."
• The 39th Governor was put in the national spotlight in January 2008, when he served as John McCain's campaign co-chair. He was also thought to be one of McCain's main contenders for the vice-presidential slot on the GOP ticket, which eventually went to Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin.
• Pawlenty also has a lighter side. He's got a love for hockey and Bruce Springsteen.
• Finally, who could forget his fishing opener stories? Certainly not his wife, Mary Pawlenty. To quote the husband, "I have a wife who genuinely loves to fish. I mean, she will take the lead and ask me to go out fishing, and joyfully comes here. She loves football, she'll go to hockey games and, I jokingly say, 'Now, if I could only get her to have sex with me.'"
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Northstar Opens Despite Efforts To Block
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