Republican Scott Honour announced Wednesday via Twitter and a web site that he's challenging Gov. Mark Dayton in next year's gubernatorial election.
But the retired private equity executive from Wayzata, who raised money for Mitt Romney's presidential candidate, declined to give interviews to local media Wednesday.
So there was some surprise to see him quoted this morning in a Wall Street Journal story (paywall).
Political commentator Blois Olson commented on the national/local disconnect:
After months of local media requests for interviews, including yesterday, the only interview Honour gave was to the Wall Street Journal.
VERBATIM: “After Mr. Honour’s former school buddies egged him on and his family signed-off, he decided to run…
QUOTE: “The election’s next year but there’s a lot of wood to chop between now and then,” Mr. Honour, 46 years old, said in an interview. “I don’t have any name recognition.”…Economic issues and education were the two main issues pushing Mr. Honour to get in the race, he said. He was particularly critical of tax increases the governor and state legislature have considered, saying the tax climate is driving away businesses and taxpayers…”
CONTRAST: He figures his background — from being born to parents living in a trailer park to helping build a private-equity firm — will help set him apart from Mr. Dayton…“He hasn’t had the experience I’ve had in figuring out how to get through tough times,” Mr. Honour said. “I’ve got a lot of empathy for people experiencing financial hardship. I’ve lived through it.”
Honour is conducting local interviews today.