Scott M. Larson
Bar patrons at establishments near the University sat firing political thought at each other Tuesday night as televisions flickered election results of a Jesse Ventura gubernatorial win.
Many said they voted for the former professional wrestler, but few really understood what the bald bomber stood for.
“I don’t know what he’ll do when he gets in office,” said Dan Culhane, a patron at Sally’s Saloon and Eatery in Stadium Village, who voted for Ventura. “He’s not a dummy, but he’s not the brightest bulb on the block.”
“It’s about time they got someone else in there besides rich-ass men,” said College of Liberal Arts sophomore Chris Hodge. “He was a (Navy) SEAL and an actor in one of the best movies ever: Predator.”
But one Sally’s customer said there was no way he would vote for Ventura.
“I vote my paycheck,” said union member Scott Hanlon, who works on airplanes and voted for Hubert H. “Skip” Humphrey III.
At Stub and Herb’s Bar and Restaurant in Stadium Village, mechanical engineering senior Mark Lindquist berated the two-party system.
“We got what we deserve with Jesse; you don’t deserve bipartisan politics.”
“It might cost the state some money,” said Rob Germinaro, a fourth-year business student. “I don’t think he knows what he’s doing. It might come back and bite them in the ass.”
Two blocks away, students in Centennial Hall followed the evening’s results with interest.
“I think he’s really honest, and that appeals to me,” said Nicole Clements, a Carlson School of Management junior who voted for Coleman. “I’m not sure about his abilities.”
Clements researched the candidates online before selecting the Republican candidate. Ventura is not as generous to students as the other two candidates, she said. She said the Reform Party candidate’s statements about cutting financial aid worry her.
“As a student paying for college, that’s hard for me to hear,” she said.
College of Liberal Arts freshman James Buum voted for Jesse Ventura.
Buum figured few would cast their votes for the third party candidate — counting Ventura out of the “real” race between the major parties.
“People think it’s a wasted vote,” he said.
“He changed their opinions, brought new people out. He was well received,” the freshman said with a smile.