February 25, 2010 7:28 AM

Despite everything, some of us did grow up to be assets to society

With a degree in environmental studies from Macalester College, Entenza began his career working at a nonprofit organization for Paul Wellstone. A liberal Democrat, Wellstone would go on to become a U.S. senator and Entenza’s “first big mentor.”…. Entenza then went to England, where he studied law at Oxford University. After that stint overseas, he returned to finish his law degree at the University of Minnesota. He put that degree to work and made a career of fighting corruption and deceit. First from the Minnesota Attorney General’s office, where he took on telemarketers who were “ripping people off,” and then as an assistant attorney for Hennepin County, taking down white-collar criminals. Entenza said he thinks his attorney experience will work to his advantage. Businesses that exploit their position to gain a profit are one of the biggest problems today, he said.

From time to time I’m reminded all over again that I’ve grown up to be the people my parents warned me about. I’m actually pretty OK with that, but when a college classmate does something that makes me look like a slacker…well, it’s hard not to be proud and to feel as if I’ve perhaps underachieved a bit. Then again, not all of us can save the world, eh?

Matt Entenza is a fellow Macalester College alum who is not only running for Governor of Minnesota, he’s by far the most qualified and deserving candidate in the field. His wife, also a Mac grad, is at least as smart and capable as he is. I haven’t lived in Minnesota since 1992, so my opinion is worth about as much there as my vote (zero), but if I was still living in The Great White North MInnesota, I’d be pounding the pavement for Entenza. There are few politicians out there as genuine, committed, and transparent as Entenza. Having known him in college, I can attest to the fact that he’s probably smarter than 99.99% of all politicians anywhere. Having learned populism from the master himself, Paul Wellstone, he’s well suited to represent a state known for its own unique brand of populism.

It’s not often that someone of Entenza’s caliber decides to follow his passion into public service. He could undoubtedly make a ton of money in the private sector, but to his credit he’s decided that his skills could best be used in trying to make Minnesota a better place. Minnesota could do a whole lot worse…though after the Tim Pawlenty years, it would be difficult to imagine how.

I realize, of course, that endorsing a gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota from here in Oregon is probably an exercise in something akin to mental masturbation. Nonetheless, if you’re reading this and you live in Minnesota, vote for Matt Entenza. You won’t be sorry. Trust me on this one.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on February 25, 2010 7:28 AM.

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