Apr 27, 2006 3:14 pm US/Central
Bar Owner Enters GOP Race For Governor
St. Paul (AP) ―
Until recently she was running for governor as a Libertarian.
But on Thursday, Minneapolis bar owner Sue Jeffers confirmed that she will challenge Gov. Tim Pawlenty for the Republican endorsement. Jeffers said she's more fiscally conservative than the governor.
Jeffers started out a Pawlenty supporter -- she even volunteered for his campaign four years ago. Now, Jeffers said fees have risen too much, this year's bonding bill is too big and Pawlenty shouldn't let Hennepin County raise a sales tax for a Twins ballpark without voter approval.
"Four years of a Republican governor, Republican House and evenly divided Senate can still not get us off the list of the top 10 highest taxed states," she said at a Capitol news conference.
She added: "Anytime the Legislature is in session, I hang on to my wallet."
Jeffers was offered the Libertarian endorsement on April 15, but said she delayed accepting it so she can try running as a Republican. GOP officials have said she's not a Republican and are blocking her effort to lobby delegates and address the state convention.
"It's clearly a publicity stunt by a Libertarian who hopes to make GOP delegates into campaign props," GOP spokesman Mark Drake said.
Jeffers owns Stub and Herb's on the edge of the University of Minnesota campus. She's been a leading opponent of smoking bans in the Twin Cities area.
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