MPR: Candidate Profile: Pam Ellison

Candidate Profile: Pam Ellison
By Laura McCallum
June 23, 2000
Part of MinnesotaPublicRadio.org's Campaign 2000 coverage

RealAudio 3.0

Two years ago, Jesse Ventura took the political establishment by surprise, defeating two well-known politicians with a campaign that was heavy on blunt talk and short on money. The governor's former volunteer coordinator is hoping to do the same this year in the Fourth Congressional District, which includes St. Paul and surrounding suburbs. Pam Ellison of St. Paul, endorsed by the Independence Party to run for retiring Congressman Bruce Vento's seat, is banking on the district's block of independent voters. But Ellison doesn't have two of the governor's advantages: the name Jesse Ventura and state campaign funding.

Ellison has worked for Governor Ventura in several capacities; recruiting volunteers for his successful gubernatorial bid, working for his administration as executive assistant to Lieutenant Governor Mae Schunk, and traveling around the state promoting one of his pet projects: a one-house legislature.

PEOPLE WHO KNOW Pam Ellison describe her as a "fireplug", a "bundle of energy", a "dynamo" who speaks her mind. Her candor is clear from the outset, when the 42-year-old consultant talks about the other candidates in the race - Republican Linda Runbeck, and DFLers Chris Coleman, Bette McCollum and Steve Novak.

"All of them that are running, regardless who it is that gets in the race, unless they're a newcomer like me, have nothing new to say," she says. "And they don't have the drive to do the right thing in spite of their party politics."

Ellison has worked for Governor Ventura in several capacities; recruiting volunteers for his successful gubernatorial bid, working for his administration as executive assistant to Lieutenant Governor Mae Schunk, and traveling around the state promoting one of his pet projects: a one-house legislature.

But Ellison is quick to point out that although she respects Ventura and is writing a book on what she's learned from his political experience, she does not agree with him on everything. She's critical of some of his administration's environmental policies, and thinks the MPCA and agriculture department should crack down on polluting feedlots. Ellison says the environment is the driving issue behind her campaign.

"As I see us progress and become more successfully economically as a nation, I just see that there's less concern for being good stewards of our natural resources, in terms of clean air, clean water and clean land," she says.

Ellison is also concerned about protecting individual privacy in the Internet age, and protecting human rights in the era of free trade. She's calling for full public funding of campaigns, which she says would bring new blood to politics. She knows she will be heavily outspent in the race for Minnesota's much-coveted open congressional seat.

"Anybody would laugh at me running on a thousand-plus dollars that I have in my account right now," she says. "But I am out there every day, beating the bushes, talking to people, going door to door, trying to get consensus of citizens of where they are on the issues, and I think it's the hard work that there is no substitute for."

Republican and DFL leaders are skeptical that Ellison can win the Fourth District simply by pounding the pavement and getting independent voters to the polls, when her opponents are likely to buy up airtime as the election approaches, and one is already running billboard ads. Former Republican State Senator Fritz Knaak, who's long been involved in Fourth District politics, doubts Ellison will be able to get more than five or ten percent of the vote, largely from people sick of the two-party system.

"I really would question whether or not Pam Ellison can count on that percentage of voters in the Fourth Congressional District saying 'none of the above.' and choosing her," says Knaak. "That's probably her best shot, I mean, she's unknown, she's not going to have party apparatus, this is going to be a race that I think is going to be won the old-fashioned way: with a lot of media, with a lot of money and a lot of door-knocking and legwork. And it's a real question whether she has the bodies or the resources that'll be necessary to make that happen."

"Pam's first task is to communicate and find out who those swing voters are, and make sure she captures that voting block."

- Dean Barkley

Of course, that's exactly what the pundits said before Ventura proved them wrong. But Ellison lacks Ventura's name recognition, and his access to state campaign financing - there's no public funding for federal candidates. And she may not even have the governor. Ellison says Ventura probably won't endorse any candidates until after the filing period in July, and hasn't decided which candidates he'll stump for.

"I don't have a problem with that," says Ellison. "My strategy does not change with or without the governor. Certainly if he wants to support me and endorse me, I would welcome that. But my campaign isn't reliant on that."

Ventura's planning director, Dean Barkley, ran unsuccessfully as a third-party congressional candidate in the Sixth District in 1994. He believes the Fourth District is one the Independence Party has a shot at winning, because Ventura did well in the district two years ago..

"Pam's first task is to communicate and find out who those swing voters are, and make sure she captures that voting block, which is about 20 to 22 percent," says Barkley. "If she can do that, she's in the ball game."

If not, Ellison may simply pull votes from the other two major parties. And Ellison may face a primary challenge. Barkley says former Ramsey County attorney Tom Foley is considering entering the race.

	Sign up to receive e-mail newsletters

	Audio help

	Text: Sm : Md : Lg