By Laura McCallum
February 26, 1999
St. Paul business leaders welcomed Governor Ventura into their midst today. Ventura offended some St. Paul residents and Irish-Americans this week
by joking on the David Letterman show that drunk Irishmen must have designed the
streets in St. Paul. But Mayor Norm Coleman calls Ventura a huge asset to the
city.
VENTURA ADDRESSED THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Capital City Partnership, 50
business leaders whose companies have invested $25,000 in
revitalizing St. Paul. Mayor Coleman, who initially criticized Ventura's David
Letterman comments, made it clear he has no animosity toward his former
campaign rival.
Coleman:
You are a great friend of the City of St. Paul. We welcome you to our city, we
apologize if the welcome wagon hasn't arrived yet on Summit Avenue. I have to
tell you, Governor, not just for kids from Minneapolis or kids from Brooklyn but
for folks in St. Paul, it is tough to find your way around these streets, no
question, no question about that. But I want to make it very clear,
make no mistake, everybody in this room and beyond, what a huge asset Governor
Ventura is to this city. His leadership style is brand-new to us, but change is
good.
Ventura returned the praise, crediting Coleman with boosting downtown
development. But the Governor had a request for the city's business leaders. He
says the state has helped St. Paul over the years, and now it's time for them to
consider the plight of Minnesota's farmers.
Ventura:
And I implore these tremendous minds that are in this room right now . The
tremendous minds of success that have done for St. Paul what they've done and
got St. Paul's economic future bright on the horizon. Well, we now need the help
from St. Paul, you, to help our agricultural communities here in Minnesota
right now because they are in dire straits.
Ventura offered no specifics on the type of assistance business leaders could
provide, and there was little reaction from the group. Ventura warned St. Paul
not to expect to get any big projects included in next year's bonding bill,
which he says will be a conservative one. He railed against unnecessary laws,
saying government shouldn't over-regulate business or citizens.
Ventura:
You know, there's been a lot of editorializing right now of people saying
Jesse Ventura's not doing his job, because he's only submitted 10 bills to the
legislature. Well, that's part of my new movement, ladies and gentleman, I don't
think we need any more laws.
The governor says he'll propose that every four years, the Legislature meet only
to get rid of obsolete statutes, not pass new ones. But aside from his
opposition to unnecessary government regulation, several of Ventura's priorities
aren't likely to be popular among the C.E.O.'s who make up the Capital City
Partnership. Ventura touted his sales-tax rebate, which would return money to
people who don't pay income tax, and his tobacco-settlement plan, which sets
aside one-time tobacco money in four foundations, rather than using for tax
relief as Republicans support.
Ventura got a big round of applause when he
promised to keep state agencies in St. Paul, and he repeated a bland version of
his Letterman quip, with no reference to the Irish.
Ventura:
Besides, why should everybody else have an easier time not getting lost?
If I move them to Minneapolis, I might know where they're at. You do have a sense of humor!
While Ventura has made peace with St. Paul's movers and shakers, his
relationship with the local news media remains testy. When a reporter asked the
governor if he was serious about requiring the legislature to get rid of laws
every four years, Ventura shot back that he's always serious now; no more
attempts at humor.
Laura McCallum covers politics for Minnesota Public Radio. You can reach her at lmccallum@mpr.org.