Brian Sullivan, the first man to jump into the race for Minnesota’s governorship, has already put more than 50,000 miles on his car since he announced his bid in February.

Tuesday, October 23, 2001

Brian Sullivan, the first man to jump into the race for Minnesota’s governorship, has already put more than 50,000 miles on his car since he announced his bid in February.

He’s made it a point to visit every county in the state as he works to build a grass-roots support network. His goal is to build enough Republican support to win the party nomination.

&uot;I’m committed to the nomination process, and I’ll respect my party’s decision,&uot; said Sullivan during a stop in Albert Lea Monday.

Most view him as a political outsider, but Sullivan is relying on the state’s heritage of embracing newcomers to the political arena.

&uot;Minnesota has always been willing to elect people who are not career politicians. Paul Wellstone, Rod Grams, Rudy Boschwitz, and certainly Jesse Ventura – all of these guys came into their offices from the outside,&uot; he said.

Sullivan, a successful Twin Cities businessman and founder of Recovery Engineering (maker of PUR water filters), is also convinced that his personal wealth won’t hurt him during the gubernatorial race. The state recently elected millionaire department-store heir Mark Dayton to the U.S. Senate.

&uot;I’m not concerned about that. I earned my money through my own initiative,&uot; he said. &uot;Besides, if I don’t have a credible message that resonates with people, then I won’t have a chance.&uot;

Sullivan’s message is direct, and focused on the issues he thinks are most important to Minnesotans: education and transportation.

&uot;Those are really the two things that come up more than anything else,&uot; he said.

Sullivan said he will advocate discarding the Profile of Learning, and immediately find a dedicated source of money to upgrade roads throughout the state.

While traveling in Greater Minnesota, Sullivan has talked to many people about economic opportunity. He thinks his business acumen gives him the perspective to help the state become more competitive and bring more jobs to the entire state.

&uot;That would be a very important focus for my administration,&uot; he said. &uot;I want everyone, especially our young people, to be able to realize their potential.&uot;

Sullivan thinks Ventura’s support will wane in the next election. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the mood of the nation and the state has become much more serious.

&uot;Ventura is very representative of the 1990s, when people were willing to try something off the wall. Now is the time for more serious leadership,&uot; he said.

Sullivan said he has a much better chance to identify with the average Minnesotan than Ventura, who has a movie-star aura.

&uot;That’s what I’m relying on, especially as this campaign gets going in the next several months. I think the state is ready for a more serious presence,&uot; he said.

Sullivan and his wife Mia have two daughters, Elena and Eva. The family lives in western Hennepin County.