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'''Tim Pawlenty''' is the former [[Republican]] [[governor]] of the State of [[Minnesota]], having served from 2003 until 2011. Though he never won even 50% of the vote, Pawlenty's appeasement of liberals earned him high approval ratings during his governorship.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/governor/pawlenty/</ref> He balanced the state budget without breaking his pledge not to raise taxes and improved education. He was reelected in 2006, beating [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL) candidate [[Mike Hatch]] in a close election.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/07/mngov/</ref> Pawlenty was considered one of the main contenders for the Republican Vice Presidential spot for [[John McCain]] in 2008.

'''Tim Pawlenty''' is the former [[Republican]] [[governor]] of the State of [[Minnesota]], having served from 2003 until 2011. Though he never won even 50% of the vote, Pawlenty's appeasement of liberals earned him high approval ratings during his governorship.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/governor/pawlenty/</ref> Though he pledged not to raise taxes, he balanced the state budget by imposing "state fees" on activities such as purchasing cigarettes, harvesting food, using emergency services, obtaining a marriage certificate, and public parking. He was reelected in 2006, beating [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL) candidate [[Mike Hatch]] in a close election.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/07/mngov/</ref> Pawlenty was considered one of the main contenders for the Republican Vice Presidential spot for [[John McCain]] in 2008.

In June 2009, Governor Pawlenty announced he would not seek a third term in the 2010 election, and instead seeks the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref> "I don't know what the future holds for me, I'm not ruling anything in or out." <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref>

In June 2009, Governor Pawlenty announced he would not seek a third term in the 2010 election, and instead seeks the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref> "I don't know what the future holds for me, I'm not ruling anything in or out." <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref>