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Timothy James PawlentyAmerican politician, 39th Governor of Minnesota
Date of Birth: 27.11.1960
Country:  USA |
Content:
Timothy Pawlenty: A Political Journey
Childhood and EducationTimothy James Pawlenty was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on January 27, 1960. The son of Eugene and Virginia Pawlenty, he inherited a blend of Polish and German heritage. Timothy had four siblings, and his father worked as a milk truck driver, while his mother was a homemaker who passed away from cancer when Timothy was 15.
Pawlenty graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He later earned a Juris Doctor degree, meeting his future wife, Mary Anderson, during law school. After marrying, they settled in Eagan, Minnesota.
Early Career
Before pursuing a political career, Timothy Pawlenty practiced law at Rider Bennett, a firm he had interned with during college. In 1988, he joined the City Planning Commission under Mayor Vic Ellison and became a member of the city council a year later.
State Politics
Legislative CareerPawlenty entered state politics in 1990, working on John Gruseth's gubernatorial campaign. He was later accused of unethical behavior and cronyism for appointing Gruseth's former wife, Vicki Tigwell, to the MSP Airport Commission.
In 1992, Pawlenty was elected to the state House of Representatives, representing District 38B with 49% of the vote. He was re-elected five times, eventually becoming majority leader. Pawlenty focused on tax cuts, a project initiated by Independent Governor Jesse Ventura.
Governorship
Pawlenty first ran for governor in 2002. However, party leaders made it clear they preferred Brian Sullivan. He attempted to switch to the Senate race but dropped out after Vice President Dick Cheney convinced him to yield to Norm Coleman.
Undeterred, Pawlenty re-entered the gubernatorial race and narrowly won the party primary. In the general election, he faced strong opposition from Democratic-Farmer-Labor Senator Roger Moe and Independence Party candidate Tim Penny. With a pledge to refuse tax increases, address driver's licenses, concealed carry laws, and education reform, Pawlenty prevailed, largely due to support from suburban voters.
Pawlenty won re-election in 2006, despite criticism from conservatives over his budget decisions. In his bid for a third term, Pawlenty hinted at a presidential run in 2008 but did not pursue it.
Presidential Aspirations
In 2008, Pawlenty was considered a potential vice presidential candidate for John McCain. However, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was chosen for the position.
