Dean Barkley

Dean Barkley
United States Senator from Minnesota
In office November 4, 2002 – January 3, 2003
Appointed by	Jesse Ventura
Preceded by	Paul Wellstone
Succeeded by	Norm Coleman
Personal details
Born	Dean Malcolm Barkley (1950-08-31) August 31, 1950 Annandale, Minnesota
Political party	Independence
Children	Brooke
Alma mater	University of Minnesota University of Minnesota Law School
Occupation	lawyer, civil servant, politician
Religion	Lutheran (ELCA)

Dean Malcolm Barkley (born August 31, 1950) is a lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States Senate from Minnesota. A founder and chair of the Minnesota Reform Party (the predecessor of the Independence Party of Minnesota), he chaired Jesse Ventura's successful 1998 gubernatorial campaign; Ventura subsequently appointed him director of the state's Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning, and appointed Barkley to the US Senate after the death of Paul Wellstone. Barkley ran as the Independence Party's candidate for the Senate in 2008, coming third to Al Franken and Norm Coleman.^[1]

Early life and career

Barkley was born in Annandale, Minnesota, graduating from Annandale High School in 1968.^[2] He received his BA from the University of Minnesota in 1972 and JD from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1976^[2] During his university years Barkley volunteered for George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign because of his opposition to the Vietnam War.^[3]

After graduating from law school, he practiced law and in 1988 became president of Dayton’s Furniture in Annandale, a position he held until 1991.^[2]

Political career

Prior to Jesse Ventura

A founder of the Minnesota Reform Party, Barkley ran for the U.S. House in 1992, a run inspired by Ross Perot's presidential campaign,^[3] and received 16% of the vote, thanks in part to Perot voters. He was also a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1994 and 1996.

Ventura and the United States Senate

Barkley was chairman of Jesse Ventura's successful gubernatorial campaign in 1998. In January 1999 Ventura appointed Barkley as director of the Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning (known as Minnesota Planning).

On November 4, 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to complete the Senate term of Paul Wellstone, who died in a plane crash on October 25, 2002. The appointment was announced during the Senate debate between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Walter Mondale, who had taken Wellstone's place on the ballot; Ventura intended to upstage the debate. Barkley served until the 107th congress ended on January 3, 2003, when he was replaced by Coleman, who won the election. Ventura had previously stated that he would not appoint a replacement for Wellstone, but said he changed his mind out of disgust at Wellstone's memorial service, which he felt was used as a rally for the Democratic Party, and because the major parties refused to take the third-party senatorial candidate seriously or to allow him to participate in the debates.

During his weeks as senator, Barkley helped pass legislation establishing a memorial for Wellstone and provided a pivotal vote in clearing the final passage of the Homeland Security Act.^[4]

After Ventura

After leaving office, Barkley did a stint in St. Paul as a state government lobbyist for a tobacco company, a casino, and the private prison industry.^[3] Beginning in April 2005, Barkley served as campaign director and chief strategist for Texas Independent Gubernatorial hopeful Kinky Friedman in 2006.^[5]

In a June 2007 interview with Minnesota Monitor, Barkley confirmed that he had been approached by Democrats in Minnesota's 6th congressional district about a possible challenge to Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann. Barkley indicated he would consider running if the DFL would support him as an independent candidate.^[6]

As of May 2008 Barkley was working part-time as a bus driver for the elderly and disabled.^[3] He says he enjoys the job and sees it as a public service.^[7]

2008 U.S. Senate campaign

Both Barkley and Ventura considered challenging Norm Coleman for reelection to the U.S. Senate seat that Barkley previously held.^[7][8] On July 14, 2008, Ventura announced that he would not seek election to the seat, prompting Barkley to announce his candidacy. Ventura supported Barkley and donated $500 to the campaign.^[9]

Despite entering the race late, Barkley was polling as high as 19% by October 1.^[10] The campaign also produced two statewide radio ads featuring Barkley and Ventura.^[11] Barkley, unlike many third party and independent candidates, was included in public debates with the major party nominees; the first of five three-way debates took place October 5.^[12] He received the endorsement of former U.S. Representative Tim Penny.^[13] Numerous polls showed that Barkley would affect the outcome of the race.^[14] Barkley raised $163,358 for his campaign (less than 1% of each of his opponents' totals).^[15] He received over 435,000 votes or about 15% of the total, significantly affecting a race in which the eventual winner Al Franken and incumbent Norm Coleman were separated by only 312 votes.^[16][17]

2012 Minnesota Supreme Court campaign

Barkley ran against Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice G. Barry Anderson in the 2012 election.^[18] Anderson was appointed to the court by Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2004, was elected to a six-year term in 2006, and was reelected in 2012.

Following public office

Barkley returned to law practice in Bloomington, with a general practice.^[19]

Papers

Dean Barkley's senatorial papers are in the library of the Minnesota Historical Society. They include biographical files, press releases and speeches, legislative files, and issue mail.^[20]

References

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States Senators from Minnesota
Class 1	Rice Ramsey McMillan Davis Towne Clapp Kellogg Shipstead Thye McCarthy H. Humphrey M. Humphrey Durenberger Grams Dayton Klobuchar
Class 2	Shields Wilkinson Norton Windom Stearns Windom Edgerton Windom Sabin Washburn K. Nelson Johnson Schall Benson Howard Lundeen Ball A. Nelson Ball H. Humphrey Mondale Anderson Boschwitz Wellstone Barkley Coleman Franken