by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter

Former Democratic congressman Tim Penny recently indicated that whomever the Independence Party (IP) gubernatorial candidate will be next year, it won’t be him.

Not long ago, the IP sent out a press release on the governor’s race, mentioning Penny’s name and the names of other better known former party candidates.

But Penny allowed his name to be used, he explained, with the understanding that he was not going to run for governor.

Certainly not this election cycle, said Penny.

And maybe never.

“Frankly I’m at a point in my life I can’t imagine an election cycle where I would decide to get back into that arena,” Penny recently said.

Penny did service to the IP as its gubernatorial candidate in 2002, but failed to repeat the success of Jesse Ventura.