St. Paul-- Today Matt Entenza issued a statement on tomorrow's anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse:

"Tomorrow marks the three-year anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse that killed thirteen people. The collapse is an example of government that failed. Warnings were ignored, dollars were taken away, and Minnesota suffered. On this day, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones, and our commitment to ensuring that our state is run with competence is renewed. Together we rebuilt the bridge and together we will rebuild our state."

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St Paul - Today Matt Entenza announced the formation of his leadership team. The team, made up of a diverse group of Minnesotans, will advise the campaign and the future administration on the issues and policies critical to making Minnesota great again.
 
The leadership team consists of over 20 leaders and policy makers from across the state and from across cultural boundaries including Republicans and Democrats as well as non-partisan public policy thinkers and advocates. The full list along with a brief biography of each member of the team can be found at http://entenza.com/news_and_events/press_kit.
 
Discussing his leadership team at a state Capitol press conference, Entenza said, "Minnesota faces significant challenges including a massive deficit, a struggling economy and deteriorating schools. But our capacity for greatness remains strong and my leadership team will help advance our strategy tomove Minnesota forward. The coalition we are building across the state will not only be important for winning on November 2nd, but will be invaluable when it comes to governing in January."
 
Robyne Robinson, candidate for lieutenant governor, said, "I am so energized by the terrific support we are gaining around Minnesota. Our leadership team reflects the broad coalition we're going to need to make our education system remarkable again."
 
Speaking on her role in the leadership team, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner said, "I am so proud to work with this remarkable group of people. The leadership team offers a window into the broad coalition Matt is building across the state. I am supporting Matt because he is the candidate most capable of uniting our state around a common vision, with plans to make us a leader in the clean energy economy and to ditch No Child Left Behind so our teachers can teach to every child's potential."

Former Transportation Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg said, "Matt's leadership team is made up of some of the brightest and most innovative thinkers in their respective fields. Matt will work with them to tackle our state's challenges and make Minnesota great again. I am honored to work alongside these great minds and dedicated public servants."

Matt Entenza's campaign for governor of Minnesota is about growing the economy, creating jobs all over Minnesota by focusing on the potential of clean energy, and refocusing on education as the engine of future job creation and economic competitiveness. Entenza was a white-collar crime prosecutor prior to representing St. Paul in the Minnesota legislature for 12 years, including four years during which he also served as House Minority Leader and led the DFL to significant gains. In 2007, Entenza founded Minnesota 2020, a think tank that has been an important voice for progressive policy positions and which he chaired until April 2009. Entenza is a graduate of Worthington High School in Worthington, Minn., Macalester College in St. Paul, and the University of Minnesota Law School.
 
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Matt Entenza’s campaign for governor released a new online video titled “Legacy Ticket – Hip Hop Action Day.” The video features Minnesota hip hop artists, including Maria Isa, Slug, Desdamona, Mr. Peter Parker, James Everett, P.O.S. and St. Paul Slim, encouraging their fans to vote for Matt Entenza and to get active with the campaign’s Hip Hop Action Day. The video can be viewed by visiting www.entenza.com/legacy.

The Friday before the August 10th DFL Primary the Entenza Campaign will host a Hip Hop Action Day in collaboration with the artists. The action day falls on the 45th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act taking effect and will feature a sizeable canvass aimed at getting out the vote for Matt Entenza and Robyne Robinson. Participants will have the opportunity to canvass with their favorite local arts.

What: Hip Hop Action Day
When Friday, August 6, 3:00 p.m.
Where: Entenza Campaign Headquarters, 1919 University Ave, Suite 112, St. Paul

If you plan to attend the event or would like to talk to Matt prior to or following his visit, contact Jake Levy-Pollans at 651-314-9822 or jake@entenza.com.
Matt Entenza's campaign for governor of Minnesota is about growing the economy, creating jobs all over Minnesota by focusing on the potential of clean energy, and refocusing on education as the engine of future job creation and economic competitiveness. Entenza was a white-collar crime prosecutor prior to representing St. Paul in the Minnesota legislature for 12 years, including four years during which he also served as House Minority Leader and led the DFL to significant gains. In 2007, Entenza founded Minnesota 2020, a think tank that has been an important voice for progressive policy positions and which he chaired until April 2009. Entenza is a graduate of Worthington High School in Worthington, Minn., Macalester College in St. Paul, and the University of Minnesota Law School.
More information is available at www.entenza.com.

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St. Paul - The Entenza Campaign released a new ad that began airing this last weekend, titled "Rip." The ad features students and teachers, fed up with George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind (NCLB) policy, ripping standardized tests. The ad goes on to highlight Tom Emmer's support of the policy and Matt Entenza's plan to get rid of NCLB so teachers can teach to every child's potential.

The ad and script as recorded can be found here: http://entenza.com/news_and_events/press_kit

Entenza is the only candidate in the race pledging to scrap NCLB.

Matt Entenza's campaign for governor of Minnesota is about growing the economy, creating jobs all over Minnesota by focusing on the potential of clean energy, and refocusing on education as the engine of future job creation and economic competitiveness. Entenza was a white-collar crime prosecutor prior to representing St. Paul in the Minnesota legislature for 12 years, including four years during which he also served as House Minority Leader and led the DFL to significant gains. In 2007, Entenza founded Minnesota 2020, a think tank that has been an important voice for progressive policy positions and which he chaired until April 2009. Entenza is a graduate of Worthington High School in Worthington, Minn., Macalester College in St. Paul, and the University of Minnesota Law School.

More information is available at www.entenza.com.
 
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Post-Bulletin, 7/22/2010

School districts like Pelican Rapids and Moorhead shouldn’t have to go to four-day weeks or repeatedly ask voters for money, Matt Entenza said on Wednesday.

While at Horizon Middle School in Moorhead, the DFL gubernatorial candidate pledged that, if elected, money would be infused into education.

“We need a governor who understands that Minnesota’s economy is not going to move ahead unless we make sure all Minnesota students are ready to learn,” he said, adding that schools need a governor “that’s got their back.”

Now he has to convince teachers like Carla Smith that he’ll do that.

She moved from Fargo to Moorhead, where she teaches, so her kids could attend Minnesota schools. But she said the cash-strapped district is forced to have large classes and go without basic supplies.

“We keep squeezing the dollar more and more and what it equals is the kids suffering,” she said, adding about governor candidates: “They better be able to put their money where their mouth is.”

If elected, Entenza said small schools won’t see this “two-tiered school system” that leaves districts without taxpayer support suffering while wealthy ones thrive.

He said he’d also scrap the state’s participation in No Child Left Behind and increase teacher mentoring programs.

Moorhead was one of Entenza’s many stops statewide – via the plane he pilots – before the Aug. 10 primary, which pits him against House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton.