Only some gubernatorial candidates pledge to release tax records

At a press conference Wednesday morning, DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton agreed to release his tax returns. The event’s focus was on Dayton’s plans for seniors, but a reporter asked if the former U.S. senator would disclose his tax forms.

“I’ll disclose a summary,” Dayton said. “I’m not going to disclose the particular details. But within two weeks, I’ll disclose a summary along the lines of what President Obama has disclosed and along the lines of President Bush disclosed before him, that outlines my income and the taxes paid.”

The Star Tribune followed up with the other gubernatorial candidates. DFL candidates Margaret Anderson Kelliher pledged to follow Dayton’s lead while Matt Entenza will not disclose his records.

“We’ll follow the disclosures that exist now. We are happy to follow the law,” Entenza said.

Entenza, whose family wealth dwarfs that of most Minnesotans, would not answer if he was concerned that the number of commas in his tax returns would turn Minnesotans off.

According to the Strib, Republican Tom Emmer will not release his tax returns, while Independence Party candidate Tom Horner would not commit to providing his records, but left open the possibility for a future disclosure.

The issue of personal wealth has played an important role on the DFL side of the governor’s race. Kelliher is the DFL-endorsed candidate, but Dayton and Entenza’s wealth has allowed them each to bypass the traditional party infrastructure and compete in August’s primary. Both millionaires have already released campaign ads with large buys in local TV markets, while Kelliher lags behind with nothing on the airwaves yet.

Questions of disclosure also pose problems for Horner. He is a founder of the public relations consulting firm Himle-Horner, but recently had to relinquish his ownership stake. His previous involvement with the firm has caused a number of problems for the campaign, ranging from conflicts of interests in discussing the recent nurses strike to allegations from the state GOP of improper campaign contributions to Horner’s campaign. Horner has resisted calls from his IP primary opponent Rob Hahn, as well as from the Republican Party, to reveal his full client list from his consulting work.