"I'm considering it," Harrington said this morning, saying he hopes to make a decision in a matter of days. "I'm hoping to talk to a couple more people ... including Senator Moua."
Harrington, who said he's "intrigued" about the prospect of becoming an elected official, said if he decides to run, he would probably do so as a Democrat in the 67th District, which represents the city's East Side where Harrington lives.
He declined to seek a third term as St. Paul's appointed top cop. He was a finalist to become police chief in New Orleans but wasn't selected, leaving him, at this point, jobless when his term expires June 30. He's said he plans to step aside before then so Assistant Police Chief Thomas Smith can take over. Smith was appointed by Mayor Chris Coleman and approved by the City Council.
"It occurs to me that this would be a new way to serve the people who I want to continue serving," Harrington said.
Harrington's entry would amount to a big splash in what is expected to be a growing series of ripples of lesser-known candidates jumping into the race.
Moua's announcement, which shook up the local Democratic-Farmer-Labor world, came on the eve of the opening of the filings period. That period began yesterday and will end June 1, and the DFL party has decided not to endorse a candidate before the Aug. 1 primary, creating a potential free-for-all.
As of this morning, diabetes advocate Jim McGowan was the only candidate to file, but Avi Viswanathan, an aide to U.S. Sen. Al Franken, said he would file. Both are DFLers. Also, several other politically active East Siders said they are considering a run.
Republican Krysia Weidell has secured her party's endorsement.
Of the names being bandied about thus far, Harrington would probably lead the field in name recognition — a potentially huge factor in such a race.
Harrington's politics have been enigmatic to some local political observers, and — if he decides to run — his choice of party affiliation could have a major impact on the race.
"The chief's job is apolitical, so I've never really made a big deal of my politics," he said. "I was raised in a Democratic family. I'm probably like most cops: I have some conservative views. I would probably line up as an Independent in some ways."
Were Harrington to run as an Independent, that might ensure an easy coast to the general election, but it might also create trouble among DFLers who wouldn't want to lose a seat that, with Mee Moua, has been solidly Democratic.
But that scenario appears unlikely.
Referring to his support for Matt Bostrom, who is challenging Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, Harrington said, "I've been working with the Democratic party with my assistant chief's campaign, so I think I would run probably as a Democrat."
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