The Dole Institute hosted ‘An Evening with Tim Pawlenty’ Tuesday night, which was free and open to the public.
Tim Pawlenty ran as a Republican presidential candidate from May to August, 2011. He was previously governor of his home state, Minnesota, from 2003 to 2011. He also served as a majority leader in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003.
Bill Lacy invited Pawlenty to discuss politics, his support for Mitt Romney and to talk about the issues that America faces today. The Dole Institute student advisory board and College Republicans co-sponsored this event.
“I thought there would be a lot of student interest and there was. There were a fair number of students there. Governor Pawlenty is the kind of conservative who can attract a lot of support,” Bill Lacy said, “We had a fabulous crowd, a lot of interest and great questions from the audience. He’s a very engaging, very thoughtful and a very articulate gentleman. We were delighted to have him here.”
During the event, Lacy interviewed Pawlenty on stage and after he answered questions from the audience. Pawlenty talked about his thoughts on the upcoming presidential election and said he feels that the Republicans have the upper hand because of the status of the economy. Pawlenty also displayed great support for Romney and predicts that the election will be between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
“I’m a supporter of Governor Romney. He’s a knowledgeable, capable, gracious, electable candidate with a lot of executive experience. He’s mature, he’s grounded, he’s thoughtful, I think he’d be a very good president,” Tim Pawlenty said.
At the event, he wore a Jayhawk pin on his blue suit because he is also a supporter of KU, which is the new home to his daughter, Anna Pawlenty, a freshman.
Toward the end of the presentation, Pawlenty expressed his encouragement to college students.
“We need your talent, your energy, your creativity, your passion and vision for the future, your collaborative nature with us inter-generationally,” he said. “So I hope the young people in the room are inspired to be engaged and to be involved. I love the notion that we are put on this earth to serve causes and purposes bigger than just ourselves.”
Colin Thomas, a U. Kansas freshman from Baldwin City and Dole Institute student advisory board member said he was excited to meet Pawlenty himself.
“The opportunity to meet Governor Pawlenty and provide the Dole Institute introduction was a privilege for me,” he said. “Tim Pawlenty is a model public servant and an excellent example for future leaders to follow.”