Horner, Meeks cut ties to employers over opposition complaints

Tom Horner, Annette Meeks

With the DFL locked in a tight race leading up to the gubernatorial primary, the GOP and Independence parties have been slamming each other over business associations — and now Independence Party candidate Tom Horner and Republican lieutenant governor candidate Annette Meeks are responding by cutting ties to their respective employers.

The IP targeted Meeks’ position as executive director of the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota last week over a fundraising letter Meeks sent out criticizing “liberals.” The IP said it amounted to an effort to increase Meeks’ name recognition.

“A letter dated June 8 is signed by Meeks and sent to an unknown recipient list,” IP chair Jack Uldrich said in a statement. “How many thousands of Minnesotans received this letter, prepared with tax-exempt dollars, that tries to drive recognition of the little-known Meeks and delivers an Emmer stump speech while soliciting money for the ultra-conservative Freedom Foundation?”

On Saturday, Meeks responded saying that she is transitioning out of her role at FFM.

Much of my life has changed since April 27th, the day I enthusiastically joined Tom Emmer as his running mate.

At the June 7th Board of Directors meeting of the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota, they accepted my request for an unpaid leave of absence as CEO. This leave of absence becomes effective June 16th, 2010 and will be in effect through the duration of this campaign. The leave of absence covers my responsibilities as CEO as well as a member of the board of directors.

I had hoped to be able to leave my day-to-day responsibilities at the Freedom Foundation on Tuesday, May 25th (the day we officially filed for office). However, my plans were delayed due to my absence from the office late last month while attending to family matters and the recent death of my father in southern Illinois.

At the same time, the Republican Party of Minnesota has issued repeated calls for Horner to release the full list of public relations clients of his firm, Himle-Horner.

“In the face of mounting public pressure, Tom Horner has dug in his heels by repeatedly refusing to release his client list,” read a MN GOP statement. “Horner likes to talk about having ‘honest conversations’ with Minnesotans, but he won’t be honest with them about how he’s lined his pockets over the years with special interest money. It’s past time for Horner to come clean and release his client list.”

Horner responded to that criticism Monday by announcing that he has completely divested from Himle-Horner and has cut all ties and sold his stocks.

“With the transaction, Horner will have no financial or professional involvement with Himle Horner,” the campaign said in a statement. “He will continue to provide strategic communications counsel to Twin Cities hospitals, but will do this outside of Himle Horner’s work for the hospitals. Horner will not work with any other clients during his gubernatorial campaign.”