Jon Grunseth
Encyclopedia
Jon Grunseth was a Minnesota
businessman and politician
and the 1990
Independent-Republican nominee for Governor of Minnesota
. Grunseth won his party's endorsement and won its primary election
, but was forced to quit the race nine days before election day in the wake of a scandal
.
Grunseth, the Ecolab
Vice President of Public Affairs, earned the Independent-Republican Party's endorsement at their state convention, defeating moderate State Auditor
Arne Carlson
. He defeated Carlson again in the primary to become the main opposition to two-term incumbent Governor Rudy Perpich
.
On October 15, 1990, it was revealed that, in 1981, Grunseth had invited three then-teenaged friends of his daughter, as well as his daughter herself, to go skinny-dipping in the pool at his home. The revelations severely damaged his candidacy, leading Carlson to re-enter the race as a write-in candidate.
Facing certain defeat, Grunseth withdrew from the race on October 28, 1990. Carlson, the runner-up in the primary, replaced him on the ballot and ultimately defeated Perpich.
Grunseth now lives in Barnes Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania
, Australia
, where he purchased property in 1997 and founded Lennonville Orchards, a large cherry-growing operation.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
businessman and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the 1990
Minnesota gubernatorial election, 1990
The 1990 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1990. Independent-Republican Party candidate and challenger Arne Carlson defeated then Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Governor Rudy Perpich.-Results:...
Independent-Republican nominee for Governor of Minnesota
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
. Grunseth won his party's endorsement and won its primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, but was forced to quit the race nine days before election day in the wake of a scandal
Scandal
A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages the reputation of an institution, individual or creed...
.
Grunseth, the Ecolab
Ecolab
Ecolab, Inc. is a St. Paul, Minnesota based sanitation supply company founded in 1923.The company provides sanitation and pest control supplies, foodservice equipment repair and parts, food safety services and consulting to restaurants, hospitals, food and beverage plants, laundries, schools,...
Vice President of Public Affairs, earned the Independent-Republican Party's endorsement at their state convention, defeating moderate State Auditor
Minnesota State Auditor
The Minnesota State Auditor is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. State of Minnesota. The State Auditor is charged with overseeing more than $20 billion spent annually by local governments in Minnesota...
Arne Carlson
Arne Carlson
Arne Helge Carlson, Sr. is an American politician and the 37th Governor of the state of Minnesota.-Early years, education and family:...
. He defeated Carlson again in the primary to become the main opposition to two-term incumbent Governor Rudy Perpich
Rudy Perpich
Rudolph George "Rudy" Perpich, Sr. was an American politician and the longest-serving governor of Minnesota. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, he served as the 34th and 36th Governor of Minnesota from December 29, 1976 to January 4, 1979, and from January 3, 1983, to January 7, 1991...
.
On October 15, 1990, it was revealed that, in 1981, Grunseth had invited three then-teenaged friends of his daughter, as well as his daughter herself, to go skinny-dipping in the pool at his home. The revelations severely damaged his candidacy, leading Carlson to re-enter the race as a write-in candidate.
Facing certain defeat, Grunseth withdrew from the race on October 28, 1990. Carlson, the runner-up in the primary, replaced him on the ballot and ultimately defeated Perpich.
Grunseth now lives in Barnes Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where he purchased property in 1997 and founded Lennonville Orchards, a large cherry-growing operation.