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Gov. Jesse Ventura says the downturn in the state's economy has renewed his interest in the governorship and that he's currently leaning toward seeking another term as the state's chief executive. In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Ventura says he won't make a final determination until the legislative session is complete. But he hints those interested in making predictions should pay special attention to a particular issue this year: unicameralism.

	Gov. Ventura says even without the unicameral issue, he's still leaning toward another run. "I feel rejuvenated in this job because it's a new challenge. I went through three years of budget surplus and giving back rebate checks. Now it's gone 180 degrees the other way," he said. (MPR Photo/Michael Khoo)

The push to reduce the current two-house legislature to a single body has been a personal crusade for the governor. Two years ago he saw his unicameral proposal wither away in committee. Ventura says a single house would be more efficient and more accountable, and he's once again calling on lawmakers to put the plan to voters next November.

He says success this year could have a deep impact on his own future. "Because if I succeeded in doing that, then I probably wouldn't run again," he says. "Giving the people of Minnesota the opportunity to choose their government would be a huge, huge thing to accomplish, and I don't think anything else could equal it."

Ventura says the opposite is also true; if unicameralism fails to land on the ballot this year, he'd be more inclined to pursue another term, hoping a new legislative map and a new crop of lawmakers could alter the landscape.

"That's very promising news," said Independence Party Chairman Jack Uldrich. "I think he's absolutely right that if he does get unicameral on the ballot that he will view that as a major success. And he could really leave office having achieved almost all of his major goals."

Uldrich, who also serves as Ventura's assistant planning director, says he's been courting the governor to seek a second term. And he says he's glad to see him put the single-house issue back on the front burner.

"The economic difficulties the state now faces have refocused Jesse Ventura's attention on the task of being governor and more so than even six months ago. " - Gustavus Adolphus political scientist Chris Gilbert

Ventura says even without the unicameral issue, he's still leaning toward another run. "I feel rejuvenated in this job because it's a new challenge. I went through three years of budget surplus and giving back rebate checks. Now it's gone 180 degrees the other way," he said.

Gustavus Adolphus political scientist Chris Gilbert says the change in the governor's mood and demeanor are obvious.

"The economic difficulties the state now faces have refocused Jesse Ventura's attention on the task of being governor and more so than even six months ago. There does seem to be a sense that there's unfinished business, that if he is to have had a long-standing impact on state government - beyond simply the fact of his election - that there's more that needs to be done," Gilbert says.

Gilbert says, however, it's unlikely you'll see a groundswell of support for unicameralism or that lawmakers will be more receptive to the idea than they were last time around.

Ventura, however, despite his tantalizing clues, says he'll make no final decision about reelection until the current budget battle and legislative session are wrapped up, which could come as late as May.

That delay could make it hard for the Independence Party to recruit qualified candidates. If the governor decides not to run again, the party may be left scrambling at the last minute to find a substitute.

James Gibson, who ran for U.S. Senate on the IP ticket in 2000, says he's mulling a possible run for governor, but that Ventura's ambivalence muddies the waters.

"It creates a lot of uncertainty. It's not just for people such as myself that might weigh a bid; it's other candidates that might be looking at other seats. They would like to know whether they're going to be on the same ticket with the governor or with somebody else," Gibson said.

Gibson says even if Ventura does run again, he'd consider a challenge for the party's nomination. Gibson says that's not a criticism of the governor's performance. He says, simply, intraparty contests help attract attention and build party membership.