Republican Charlie Weaver will not run for governor

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter

Former public safety commissioner and former Pawlenty Chief of Staff Charlie Weaver yesterday (Monday, Nov. 23) announced that he would not run for governor in 2010 — something he has suggested in the past was a possibility.

“Running for Governor is a full time job and I know well the sacrifices that go along with the decision to seek statewide office,” said Weaver, who ran for Attorney General in 1998.

“The toll that a year-long political campaign takes on your family is just something that I am not willing to accept. Life is short, and the thought of quitting my job and basically not seeing much of my wife and four children for the next year was just something that I couldn’t justify,” he said in a press release.

Weaver also offered a tongue-in-cheek list of additional reasons why he won’t be running for governor in 2010.

1. The Governor’s Residence is nice, but it ain’t Anoka.
2. Old streaking “ incident” makes endorsement unlikely.
3. Has only raised $25.13 so far.
4. Discovered that he has to pay for personal parties at the Residence.
5. Thinks unallotment is a board game.
6. Troopers told him he couldn’t wander the Residence in his underwear.
7. Friends are too “busy” to attend convention.
8. Gift ban makes it harder to get free stuff.
9. Not interested in all those boring budget meetings.
10. Recent polling reveals he would lose to the intoxicated motorized LazyBoy guy.