Governor 2010

Pat LaMarche, a former Green Party gubernatorial candidate, said she will not run again in 2010.

LaMarche said several greens are looking at running, and a primary might be likely. She would not give names.

The Green Party must run someone for governor each cycle to maintain their status as an official party in the state.

Recent Green Party candidates:

• 2006: Pat LaMarche of Yarmouth – 9.5 percent in a five-way race
• 2002: Jonathan Carter of Lexington Twp. -- 9.2 percent in a four-way race
• 1998: LaMarche – 6.8 percent (No declared green ran this year, however LaMarche ran as an independent.)
• 1994: Carter – 6.4 percent

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Former Gov. John “Jock” McKernan said he knows of four or five good candidates for governor in 2010, but won’t say who they are.

McKernan was the last Republican to hold the chief executive position in the state, serving from 1987 to 1995. Before that he served in Congress from 1983 to 1987.

In order for a Republican to take back the Blaine House, McKernan said the candidate will need a combination of political and business experience. The right candidate will need to know how to make government work, be passionate about the state and have a vision to make things better.