It seems like supporting Iron Range DFL'ers is THE thing to do in the summer when one dreams of moving from City Hall to 1006 Summit Ave.  And on August 1^st and 2^nd - you won't find SPicy lurking in Saint Paul's historic courthouse. 

Why spend time looking at giant onyx statues when there are two more stops on Minnesota's Long-shot Gubernatorial Ambition (LGA) tour.  And SPicy is hearing I might not be the only person from Saint Paul hitting the links.

Saint Paul's own Chris Coleman has been rumored to be considering the next two stops on the tour after playing in State Representative Tom Rukavina's annual golf event.  The Mayor made his debut on the LGA earlier this year and anticipation is building for what could be an interesting two days.  

On August 1st SPicy will be heading out to Rutgers Sugar Lake Lodge to join the hopefuls on the 6,534 yard par 71 golf course.  The plan is to get their early in hopes of joining the gallery looking for the Mayor during the annual Solberb/Saxhaug Golf Scramble. 

Playing on the LGA is not for the weak ego or the light bank account.  Its $200 for the Solberg/Saxhaug scramble and you have to compete with invited guests that include: Speaker Anderson Kelliher, Majority Leader Pogemiller, Majority Leader Sertich, President Metzen, Sen. Bakk, Tomassoni, Sen, Sparks, Rep. Rukavina, Rep. Dill, Rep Anzelc, Rep. Atkins, and Rep. Moe. 

This is a tough field full of serious contenders.  SPicy can't wait to see who the Mayor gets paired up with.  Will the Mayor hang out with Metzen or have to battle it out with Pogemiller for the furthest left of the pin competition? The excitement is underwhelming.

The next day SPicy will be heading to Tower for the 4^th Annual Senator Tom Bakk Golf Scramble.  This LGA event is hosted by Fortune Bay's Wilderness course.  The ticket is less but the course is more of a challenge.  It's $130 to play the Wilderness course that measures approximately 7,207 yard from the back tees. 

In addition to advancing a career opportunity, the Mayor could also win a new American-made car with a hole-in-one.  SPicy wonders if there is any chance this could be one of the last Ford Rangers to leave Saint Paul's assembly line?

The Wilderness also provides players with something no politician should be without - a cart equipped with a GPS system.  How else will they know where they are regardless of who they are playing with? Its amazing that a little computer will help a legislator find their way while their constituents are screaming from the mainstream.

After the social hour and award presentation, SPicy wonders if the Mayor will head over to the casino to see if Lady Luck is smiling as much as she was just a few years back when Randy Kelly made the double bogey endorsing GWB. Possibly he will head to the Sudan Mine to hide from all the turmoil on the surface.

It may seem like fun and games, but the LGA is serious.  This is where legends are made and the competition is intense.  Can the candidate persuade a labor activist?  Will someone else have a more pronounced leftward snap-hook drive?  Can a new-comer avoid the bunker and sneak past long-established players or will the summer heat of the LGA be too much to handle? We'll keep our eyes on the leader board.

SPicy encourages anyone reading this to call the Mayor's office to offer their encouragement.  It's time to support leaders who take on such important challenges.  Just don't try to set up a meeting.

On the other hand maybe SPicy has it all wrong and the Mayor will be in Saint Paul adding jobs and promoting development in the city.  We'll see.  If the Mayor is going, SPicy will be sure not to speed until Spicy's vehicle is clear of Mayor Coleman's law enforcement jurisdiction, the last thing SPicy wants is to be on the news.