Nonprofit head decides to run for governor

10/03/2005

Chao Xiong,
Star Tribune
October 3, 2005

Advocating for education, an improved economy and environmental protection, DFLer Bud Philbrook officially announced his bid for the governor’s office Sunday afternoon.

Philbrook, 59, also criticized Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty for failing to prioritize “core values” and for using disingenuous rhetoric harmful to political participation.

“I’m running because I am deeply concerned about where Minnesota is being taken, not where we are willingly going,” Philbrook said at his campaign launch at a Maplewood park.

Philbrook served as a state legislator from Roseville 30 years ago.

He also served as assistant commissioner for the Department of Natural Resources during Gov. Rudy Perpich’s first administration.

In 1984, Philbrook and his wife, Michele Gran, founded and have since run Global Volunteers, a nonprofit that deploys volunteers across the globe. They live in Maplewood and have three sons.

Philbrook, who has also practiced law, dubbed the crux of his campaign E3: quality education, a strong economy and environmentalism.

To meet those ends, Philbrook said he has had very preliminary discussions about a program that would give students no-interest loans payable over decades as long as they remain in Minnesota. He advocates higher taxes for top earners and said he would prioritize clean air and water.

On hot-button national and local issues, he said he is opposed to abortion for religious reasons but doesn’t believe government should make it illegal.

He said he opposes a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and supports state recognition of civil unions between gay couples.

The DFL gubernatorial race includes real estate developer Kelly Doran, state Sen. Steve Kelley, DFL-Hopkins, Ole Savior and a possible bid by Attorney General Mike Hatch.

Recognizing his long absence from political life, Philbrook said he would use his “outsider” status as leverage to bring Republicans and DFLers together. The self-described “moderate Democrat” also proffered his international ties from work with Global Volunteers as an asset to the state’s economic growth abroad.

“I have not been lobbing hand grenades at the other side for the past 10 years,” he said. “There are no scores to be settled.”

Invoking the late Sen. Paul Wellstone on Sunday afternoon, he called upon supporters to rally behind his grass-roots campaign, which has raised about $100,000 of an allowed $2.5 million for the 2006 race. Philbrook has held more than 120 house parties across the state and said he will embark on a weeklong, 16-community tour.

During a break from the picnic where he announced his candidacy, Philbrook said he has heard from Minnesotans who are tired of political rhetoric about taxes vs. fees, an oblique reference to the state’s new, Pawlenty-supported health impact fee of 75 cents on a pack of cigarettes.

“I think [Pawlenty is] very vulnerable,” he said.