November 5, 1998 - For Minnesotans having a tough time defending our choice for governor to out-of-staters, Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts has a few tips. HOST TAG: Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts and Mike Mulcahy. with apologies to David Letterman.
November 5, 1998 - Business and labor leaders have had a few days now to absorb the news of Jesse Ventura's suprise victory Tuesday night. While neither side claims to know a great deal about the Ventura agenda, both claim they'll find common ground with his administration. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo surveys the new landscape. NARRATION: In this year's election, quite predictably, business gave their support to Republican Norm Coleman and labor backed D-F-Ler Skip Humphrey. Neither expected Reform candidate Jesse Ventura would prevail. But now that the contest is over, leaders of both business AND labor express optimism that Ventura, a relatively unknown political quantity, represents a new opportunity for both of their camps.
November 5, 1998 - After electing Reform Party candidate and former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura as their governor, Minnesotans suddenly find themselves having to explain to the outside world what the front page of the New York Times calls an "earth rattling political upset". People from around the country and the world are calling relatives and friends in Minnesota, and asking how it happened, and why. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports. As the news of Jesse Ventura's victory spread, the David Letterman show ran wisecracks about a governor whose shorts glitter-
November 5, 1998 - There has been a lot of head scratching among the Jesse-Ventura-pilloried "experts" about how the reform Party Candidate came to be Minnesota's Governor elect--- particularly in the face of two party-machine-groomed opponents. The Ventura victory has been described as a protest by disenfranchised voters: but Minnesota Public RAdio's Lynette Nyman reports it could be more complicated than that.... The common wisdom is the Jesse Ventura voter is like an Edina Woman named Mary, who called in to an MPR post-election show. Mary said she was undecided till the end....but then placed her faith in Jesse. 1:06:08 I wanted to make a statement....
November 5, 1998 - JESSE VENTURA'S SURPRISING VICTORY IN THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR'S RACE IS ATTRACTING ATTENTION FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ONCE VENTURA TAKES OFFICE HIS PERFORMANCE IS ALSO LIKELY TO BE SCRUTINIZED NATIONALLY ... ESPECIALLY BY THOSE SEEKING TO GAUGE THE VIABILITY OF THE REFORM PARTY AND THIRD PARTIES GENERALLY. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S WILLIAM WILCOXEN REPORTS... AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING -- LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER JESSE VENTURA PROCLAIMED HE'D SHOCKED THE WORLD -- QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REFORM PARTY'S STAYING POWER WERE ALREADY FILTERING THROUGH THE SMOKE FROM VENTURA VICTORY CIGARS. MEDIA CONSULTANT BILL HILLSMAN SAID THE PARTY DID NOT PRODUCE JESSE'S WIN BUT IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BUILD ON IT...
November 5, 1998 - Tuesday's election results mean big changes ahead in state government, and education could be a key test for the new administration. School choice advocates say they don't expect any support from Reform Party Governor Jesse Ventura...but a Republican House should help keep their reforms in place. Teachers say they're counting on one of their own, Ventura's lieutenant governor Mae Schunk, to help address their issues. Schunk, a veteran teacher who's never held elected office, is promising to do good things for public schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... (Sound of cheering)
November 6, 1998 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Governor-elect Jesse Ventura about his election victory, the transition to his administration, and the national attention he's been getting. Program begins with Ventura reflecting on election night. Ventura also answers listener questions.
November 6, 1998 - Just two days after Jesse Ventura's surprise victory, Democrats are taking the first step toward reshaping the party. House D-F-L'ers met last night to elect a new MINORITY leader for the first time in more than a decade. D-F-L'ers are already focusing on how they can regain control of the House in two years, after losing the majority in Tuesday's election. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... It took four ballots and a five-hour meeting that ran past midnight, but house D-F-L'ers finally chose Tom Pugh of South St. Paul to lead them for the next two years. The 49-year-old attorney was first elected to the House ten years ago, and says Democrats need to focus on suburban voters to try to regain the majority in the next election. Pugh says lawmakers can't
November 6, 1998 - The election of Jesse Ventura as Governor will have an impact on the school segregation debate that's been brewing in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The Minneapolis N-double-A-C-P is suing the state, claiming segregated schools are shortchanging students. The state meanwhile is trying to end mandatory desegregation rules for school districts. Ventura supports mediation in the lawsuit, but he also supports neighborhood schools and an end to forced busing. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... The Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP claims the state has denied Minneapolis public school students--especially poor and minority students --their constitutional right to an adequate education because of low funding and racial segregation. The Saint Paul school district has its own
November 6, 1998 - Governor-Elect Jesse Ventura dropped a few more hints today (FRI) about his transition team and what his governing style might be like. But Ventura says he's made very few concrete decisions because the news media is monopolizing his time. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: ((the capitol basement corridor, "Morning, Governor!")) When the Governor-Elect showed up for work at his capitol-basement office this morning, he was greeted by the same crush of local and national media that has been dogging him for the last 72 hours. Ventura says the media attention is a problem -- especially as he tries to get a handle on the huge task of appointing a new administration and drawing up a state budget. He says he finds it ironic that reporters try to spend every waking hour with him, and then ask him how his transition is going. Sti