Minnesota Commissioner of Finance (1989–91), former Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools (1993–97), and consultant. Hutchinson won the Independence Party straw poll in March, and was endorsed at the June 24 convention. Hutchinson's running mate was physician and former University of Minnesota Board of Regents member (1997–2005) and chair (2001–03) Maureen Reed. Results Republican primary Candidates Sue Jeffers, Minneapolis bar owner and noted opponent of smoking bans and non-public use of eminent domain. A self-described Libertarian Republican, Jeffers was also endorsed by the Libertarian Party (which later withdrew its endorsement, as Minnesota law does not allow fusion candidates) and the Minnesota and National chapters of the Republican Liberty Caucus. Though included in neither the statewide caucus straw poll nor the party endorsement process, Jeffers challenged Governor Pawlenty for the Republican nomination in the September primary. Her running mate was Ruth Hendrycks. Tim Pawlenty, incumbent 39th Governor of Minnesota since 2003, former Majority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives (1999–2003), former State Representative from legislative district 38B (1993–2003), former Eagan City Councilor (1989–93), former member of the Eagan Planning Commission, attorney, and businessman. Pawlenty was endorsed by the state Republican party after winning the first ballot, unopposed. His running mate was incumbent 46th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota (since 2003) Carol Molnau. Results Other candidates Nominated by petition Walt E. Brown (Independent; used the ballot designation "Quit Raising Taxes"). Brown's running mate was Wesley C. Nelson. Leslie Davis (American). Davis's running mate was Gregory K. Soderberg. Ken Pentel (Green). Pentel's running mate was Danene Provencher. Former candidates Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey (VWP) – Self-proclaimed vampire. Sharkey's campaign was jeopardized on January 30, 2006, when he was arrested in Princeton, Minnesota on felony charges stemming from allegations of stalking and flight, in Indiana. Sharkey's campaign website was taken down. It was discovered that the stalking charge had been dismissed on September 29, 2003, when Sharkey pleaded guilty to two counts of invasion of privacy and was ordered to submit to mental health treatment. At his trial on July 18, 2006, he was found not guilty of the felony escape charge. Nevertheless, Sharkey's arrest and jailing effectively terminated his campaign. General election On November 7, 2006, Tim Pawlenty narrowly won the general election, 46.7% to 45.7%, in a four-way race between himself, DFL candidate Mike Hatch, Independence Party candidate Peter Hutchinson, and Green Party candidate Ken Pentel. After Pawlenty opted out of spending limits,