ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was the guest of honor at a campaign reception hosted for him Jan. 9 by the Minnesota Credit Union Network. More than 50 people attended the event that was held at MCUN's St. Paul office. Gov. Pawlenty praised credit unions for providing good paying jobs throughout Minnesota. He also thanked MCUN President/CEO Kevin Chandler and lobbyist Doug Stang for their past service in the state legislature. Stang currently works for Lockridge Grindal Nauen and is a member of the Network's lobbying team, served in the Minnesota House from 1996-2004. Chandler was in the Minnesota Senate from 1993-1997 and served as Senate Majority Whip. In 2002, when Pawlenty was Minnesota's House Majority Leader, he was instrumental in the passage of the state's Credit Union Protection Act which modernized credit union regulations and achieved parity with many federal regulations. "The credit union model works, and both the marketplace and consumers like what you're doing," Gov. Pawlenty told attendees. "Elected officials need to ensure [credit unions] have equal competition on an equal playing field, and the regulatory environment in Minnesota needs to stay fair," he continued. -

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