Independent named to replace Wellstone; Senate split evenly

Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura named fellow Independence Party member Dean Barkley as interim senator Monday, leaving the Senate split 49-49 with two independents.

Vermont Sen. James Jeffords' continued support for Democrats will enable them to continue to control the chamber, if Barkley does not join the Republican Conference. Barkley did not answer that question Monday.

Ventura's announcement came as Republican nominee Norm Coleman and former Vice President Walter Mondale debated for the one and only time in their race to succeed the late Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone. Ventura made clear he was angry that his party's Senate candidate, Jim Moore, was excluded from the debate.

"Today, three very powerful institutions-the Republican Party, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor-Party, and the Minnesota media-are conspiring to limit the hard-earned rights of ordinary citizens," Ventura said.

Barkley, who describes his philosophy as a mix of social libertarianism and fiscal conservatism, ran for the Senate in 1994 and 1996, finishing with 7 percent of the vote in the latter race to qualify the Reform Party as a major party in the state. The party was later renamed the Independence Party.

In 1992, Barkley garnered 16 percent of the vote in seeking a Minneapolis-based House seat. In 1998, Barkley served as chairman of Ventura's gubernatorial campaign and, since 1999, has been the state's planning director.

Barkley becomes a critical swing vote in the Senate in the lame-duck session, but said he did not know how he would vote, promising to speak with both parties. He also said he would seek out Jeffords.

"He was a moderate Republican spurned by his own party," Barkley said, adding. "I can get along with moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans."

After Wellstone was killed in a plane crash Oct. 25, Ventura first said he preferred to appoint a Democrat, but after a memorial service for Wellstone turned raucously partisan, Ventura said he would consider appointing an independent instead.

It was unclear how long Barkley would serve. Last week, Ventura's office and the state attorney general were examining laws and Senate rules. Although officials initially said the appointee would serve until election results are certified in mid-November, some now believe the term would run into early January.

Senate leaders Monday had no comment on Barkley serving as an interim senator.