(Editor's note: The governor's office disputes the facts in the Pete Phillips column titled "A personal message from the Governor" published Nov. 22, and wished to respond.)
Using Mr. Phillips' e-mail address, which he gave me over the phone, I was able to track the e-mail language that was automatically sent to him, and which he allegedly referenced in his column in the Wadena Pioneer Journal.
The e-mail Mr. Phillips was sent is automatically generated to anyone who writes to the Governor's e-mail address, and is simply intended to acknowledge the receipt of the constituent's message. The e-mail is also a precursor to any response we would send that addresses the particular issue raised by the constituent's e-mail to the Governor.
Unfortunately, the e-mail sent to Mr. Phillips does not match with what Mr. Phillips wrote about in his column. Nor does it address Mr. Phillips "by name."
Here is the text of the e-mail sent to Mr. Phillips: "Thank you for contacting Governor Pawlenty's office with your thoughts. Because the Governor's e-mail gets several hundred e-mail a day this reply is set up to notify you that your important message has been received. Messages are routed to the appropriate person for assistance or compiled by issue area for the Governor's review. Please know that your comments are important to our office and will be thoroughly considered. If you need immediate attention, please call the Governor's office at (651) 296-3391 or 1-800-657-3717. Thank you for taking the time to contact our office. Active and thoughtful citizens like you make Minnesota a great state in which to live."
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Since the column written by Mr. Phillips falsely recounts information he claimed to have received from the Governor's Office, we request that you allow me to address this fact to your readers.
Our office works very hard to communicate with constituents who contact us with a particular comment or concern. We want the readers of your newspaper to know that we are conscientious in this regard, which was certainly not the impression they would have received by reading Mr. Phillips' column.
Alex Carey
Press Secretary,
Greater Minnesota
Office of Governor
Tim Pawlenty
