Ron Erhardt (politician)

Ron Erhardt
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 49A district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2013
Preceded by	redrawn district
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 41A district 42B (1991–1993), 42A (1993–2003)
In office January 8, 1991 – January 5, 2009
Preceded by	Mary Forsythe
Succeeded by	Keith Downey
Personal details
Born	(1929-10-23) October 23, 1929 Minnesota
Political party	Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (2010–present)
Other political affiliations	Republican Party of Minnesota (until 2008)
Spouse(s)	Jackie (until 2001, her death)
Residence	Edina, Minnesota
Alma mater	University of Minnesota
Occupation	financial planner, legislator
Religion	Presbyterian

Ron Erhardt (born October 23, 1929) is a Minnesotan politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 49A, which includes Edina in Hennepin County.

Until July 2008, Erhardt was a registered member of the Republican Party of Minnesota and had always run as an endorsed Republican. For nine terms he achieved fairly easy election victories, even when other Republicans did poorly. In 2006 he still won with 59.5%.^[1] However, over time his district, then numbered District 41A, went from Republican-leaning to becoming a swing district with candidates of both major parties succeeding in the same elections. Illustrated by the district supporting Democrats John Kerry in the 2004 election^[2] and Amy Klobuchar for US Senate in 2006 while at the same time voting strongly for Republicans such as then Congressman Jim Ramstad and the current Congressman Erik Paulsen, as well as State Representative Ron Erhardt, who won as an endorsed Republican in those same 2004 and 2006 elections with a 60% plurality.

Political career

Prior to 2010, Erhardt was a long time Republican, known as a fiscal conservative and a social moderate, basing his positions and votes on the predominant views of the voters of his district . Well known for knocking on most doors in his district every election cycle and running a legislative poll of his constituents on major issues , he sent an annual report of issues to every household. He received many awards from a wide variety of organizations in recognition of his many years of service.^[3] His primary area of legislative work recently was in transportation. Additionally, he co-authored bills in many other areas. Previously, Erhardt served on the House Committees for Transportation Policy (Vice-Chairman), Taxes- where he, as ranking minority member, authored a major revision of Minnesota Real Property Taxes, Transportation Finance, as well as long time service on the Ways and Means Committee.^[4]

Erhardt, first elected to the State House in 1990 as a Republican, was re-elected eight times and served nine consecutive terms in the House of Representatives (1991-2009). During the Republican Party endorsement process in 2008, a conservative Republican obtained the Republican Party's endorsement, Keith Downey. Erhardt then entered the general election race as a Moderate Independent. Local conservative Republicans were upset with Erhardt's leadership of the over-ride of Governor Pawlenty's veto of the Transportation bill, and with his views on abortion and gay rights.

In February 2008, Erhardt was in the news when he and five other Republicans in the House voted with House Democrats for a successful override of Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto of a statewide transportation bill.^[5] Since 1939 only 14 vetoes have been overridden (of which 12 fall into the tenure of Independence Party Governor Jesse Ventura).^[6] Erhardt had been instrumental in the drafting of this bill which included a graduated increase in the gas tax dedicated to highway and bridge repair and construction. It also gave metro counties the option of increasing by 0.15% the sales tax to fund transit projects, an option later approved in 5 of the 7 metro area counties. The legislature's veto override vote was the first successful veto override of Pawlenty's administration. Supporters of the bill, including the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, argued that an increase in funding was needed for highways and transit, especially after the nationally mourned Highway 35W bridge collapse. The flat gas tax had not been increased since 1988. Critics of the bill, including Governor Pawlenty, opposed any tax increase and also opposed investment in mass transit. Erhardt explained his vote to override the veto by pointing out that 61% of his constituents in Edina supported the bill.

Electoral history since 2008

2008

In 2008 endorsement process, Erhardt was denied the Republican endorsement after 18 years in the house as a Republican representative. There was no primary because Erhardt did not challenge the endorsed Republican candidate, Keith Downey. Instead, Erhardt competed in a three way race in the general election, running as a moderate independent, without party affiliation, stating he would caucus with the majority, if elected.

Erhardt was endorsed by twenty-five major business, environment and labor groups, twenty other political leaders and elected officials from both major parties and by the Star Tribune. His independent candidacy led to a three-way race which included Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsed candidate Kevin Staunton.^[7]

Erhardt came in second in the three way race, as each of the three candidates received about one-third of the vote. Staunton and Erhardt split the moderate vote, giving conservative Republican Downey a narrow victory with 37% of votes cast.^[8] Political columnist Lori Sturdevant's post election analysis in the Star Tribune hypothesized that if it been a two way race, either Ron Erhardt or Kevin Staunton would have easily beaten Keith Downey, based on the turnout.^[9]

2010

In 2010, Ron Erhardt sought, but did not receive, the DFL endorsement for the state house. As part of the endorsement process, Erhardt agreed to abide by the party endorsement. Kevin Staunton was the endorsed DFL candidate and ran in a two way race against Republican Keith Downey.

2012

In 2012, Ron Erhardt sought and received the DFL endorsement for the state house. Erhardt defeated his Republican opponent, Bill Glahn, by a 12 percent margin in the November 2012 general election. At the state legislature, Erhardt was named Chair of the House Transportation Committee.

2014

Edina's Representative Ron Erhardt is running for re-election in the November 2014 general election and is endorsed by Conservation Minnesota, The Sierra Club, Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Minnesota Professional Firefighters, Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Medical Association, Education Minnesota, DFL, Planned Parenthood of MN,SD,&ND, NARAL ProChoice Minnesota, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association.

References

External links

• Ron Erhardt (politician) at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
• Rep. Erhardt legislative web page
• Rep. Erhardt web page
• Rep. Erhardt Facebook page