By Tom Scheck

MPR, 90.1

FALCON HEIGHTS — Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson used the first day of the Minnesota State Fair Johnson to urge Gov. Mark Dayton to take part in 13 debates between now and Nov. 4.

Johnson, a Hennepin County commissioner, wants two of the debates to occur at the State Fair. At a news conference, he wasted no time in criticizing Dayton, a Democrat, for declining an invitation from MPR News to debate there.

Dayton, is ducking debates, Johnson said.

“I think everybody is ready to hear where we differ and what our visions are for the state of Minnesota,” Johnson said. “So now is the time to do it rather than waiting another two to three weeks.”

Debates at the State Fair debates would allow the candidates to interact with everyday Minnesotans, said Johnson, who received a bit of that give and take before his news conference ended.

Union pipefitter Matt Faue, of Corcoran, asked Johnson why Republicans always campaign against unions.

“Trust me, I’m not a die-hard liberal but I have to vote to keep my job which keeps me on the Democratic side,” Corcoran said. “You guys learn to play with the unions better, you can have that whole 16 to18 percent of the vote and swing every election.”

Johnson told Faue that he grew up in a union household and represented employers and unions as an attorney. He then shifted the discussion to ways to improve the economy.

“We’re probably not going to agree on all union related issues, but I think it’s important that Republicans, Democrats and everybody else understand that a big chunk of the population are hardworking people whether they are in unions or not,” he said.

Johnson said he intends to appear at the Fair nearly every day and hopes to spend more time interacting with voters like Faue. But his attempt to make headlines over his debate challenge was overshadowed when Dayton made an even bigger splash at the State Fair.

The governor took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge aimed at raising money to fight ALS, also know as Lou Gerhig’s Disease. Dayton agreed to have the bucket of cold water dumped on his head during conservative talk show radio host Joe Soucheray’s live broadcast from the fair.

Dozens of onlookers, TV cameras and reporters were there to capture the event. Dayton said he was looking for a way to take the challenge and raise awareness for the cause.