There was no campaign caravan, banners, or staged meetings with a big crowd. Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tim Penny’s first visit to Freeborn County, his childhood home, after announcing his candidacy was humble, in contrast with his opponents, Democrat Roger Moe and Republican Tim Pawlenty.

In an interview, Penny emphasized his modest, middle-of-the-road approach that seeks results, not partisan interests.

Recognizing that tackling the state budget shortfall is the most important issue he would face as a future governor, Penny said, &uot;My approach is to say that everything is on the table.&uot;

Without specifying, Penny indicated there would be some spending restraint in every category of state budget until the balance returns to normalcy. Though Penny mentioned that tax increases are the last resort, he would not rule them out.

&uot;We need to get back to honest budgeting,&uot; he said. &uot;We need to stop the games and gimmicks of the budget shifts. We borrowed against all of our reserves. That is a dangerous thing because now we have no cushion left.&uot;

Referring to recent corporate scandals, Penny said the state would need to establish a good example in the way to handle its budget books. He also proposed to establish some guidelines in the management of state pension funds to protect them from corporate scandal.

On issues where public opinion is traditionally divided along party lines, Penny believes there is a middle ground.

For abortion, for example, Penny thinks he can break the stalemate between Democrats and Republicans by implementing result-oriented policies.

&uot;I am convinced that 90 percent of voters are tired of partisan debate that has not changed anything,&uot; he said. &uot;I think most voters want to see the number of abortions reduced. But in order to do that you have to help women with family planning and with pregnancy prevention programs for teenagers. The best public policy we can advance is to try to put those programs and services in place.&uot;

Penny’s free-minded politics differ from his ally, Gov. Jesse Ventura, too.

Unlike Ventura, Penny said he would support the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools. Mentioning his own experience at Mansfield Country School, he said, &uot;I believe that saying the Pledge of Allegiance, whether in a school setting or some other public settings, is something we all can be proud of sharing.&uot;

For rural development issues, Penny stressed his credentials as a lifetime rural Minnesota resident. &uot;We do not need somebody who never lived in rural Minnesota telling us what the solution to our economic agenda is,&uot; he said.

Yet, his prescription is still general. Penny said the state should facilitate funds and programs for the local governments and agencies to promote development strategies customized to different local needs. He also pointed out that closer ties between the state community college system and local business is important.

One thing Penny was clear about was his position on the tax-free zones proposed by GOP candidate Tim Pawlenty.

Selecting sites is problematic, according to Penny. &uot;Who’s gonna pick those zones? Why Albert Lea, yes, and Austin, no? That seems to be inequitable and unfair to me,&uot; Penny said. &uot;I don’t want to pick winners and losers. I want polices that make sense to all of rural Minnesota, not just selected regions.&uot;

He said he’s also concerned about the costs. &uot;If you’re gonna have a tax-free zone, then what government services in that part of the state become no longer available? These things are not cost-free.&uot;

The most difficult part of his candidacy was breaking from his long-time home in the Democratic Party and run with Ventura’s Independence Party, he said.

But he continued, &uot;I was always an independent Democrat. I was never partisan Democrat. And in the years that I have been away from elective office, I have even become more independent in my approach to public policy.&uot;

&uot;I firmly believe 90 percent of the electorates is independent. They don’t want to be called Democrats, they don’t want to be called Republicans. They need a voice in this (election) process, and that is the segment of the electorate I am trying to speak for.&uot;