Timothy James Pawlenty is an American Republican politician and businessman who served as 39th Governor of Minnesota.
Born November 27, 1960 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Pawlenty began politics as a member of Eagan City Council. In 1992, he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 38B in suburban Dakota County, and became majority leader by House Republicans in 1998. Pawlenty was elected as Governor of Minnesota, both in 2002 and 2006. His governorship from 2003 to 2011 was noted for his “no new taxes” pledge, lowering of state spending, and controversial bonding bills. Pawlenty sought the 2012 Republican presidential nomination from May to August 2011.
March 14, 2008 - MPR News analyzed the governor's campaign travel, his public events schedule and press accounts and found that he's been out of the state all or part of the day at least 25 times between January 1st and March 12th, 2008.
August 1, 2008 - A Midday MPR Special coverage program of memorial service, one year after I-35W bridge collapse. From the Basilica of St. Mary in downtown Minneapolis, Tim Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota; R. T. Rybak, mayor of Minneapolis; Sally Dyck, United Methodist Church Bishop and president of the Minnesota Council of Churches; and Father John Bauer, co-pastor of Basilica of St. Mary speak in observance of the one-year anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse. Hour long service also includes songs, prayers and reflection.
May 19, 2009 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that the number of people on the state's payroll has grown even though thousands of government employees have retired since Governor Tim Pawlenty ordered a hiring freeze at state agencies.