Editor’s Note: Currently the district attorney of Minnesota’s Ramsey County, Susan Gaertner is looking to extend her reach as the state’s next governor. Here she talks to wOw about negative campaigns, the existence of hell, why she believes in gay marriage and whether or not marijuana should be legalized.

wOw: Susan, as district attorney, you’ve gone through four elections, yes? 

SUSAN: Yes, I was elected to my first term as county attorney, or district attorney, in 1994, and then was re-elected in ’98, 2002 and 2006. I served four four-year terms. So this is my fourth four-year term. 

wOw: I don’t know how an attorney election, how ugly that can get. But obviously a gubernatorial election can get pretty nasty. Are you prepared for the nastiness that will no doubt come down the road?

SUSAN: I’m very prepared. District attorney elections in major jurisdictions, like St. Paul, and suburbs like Minneapolis and its suburbs, can indeed get very nasty.

wOw: Really?

SUSAN: I’ve experienced some very negative campaigning against me. On top of that, a lot of the decisions I make as district attorney are controversial, and I’m used to criticism — either I’m too tough on the criminal or not tough enough, and ugly things can be said. So I’m very prepared for whatever is said or done during the election.

wOw: If things were getting really tough in a campaign, would you turn nasty? Would you have your campaign strategists try to dig up dirt on somebody?

SUSAN: I wouldn’t expect to. I found that when people are negatively campaigning against me, that it’s best just to keep my head up and stay out of the fray.

wOw: Going from an attorney to a governor — is that a big jump? Is that overly ambitious?

SUSAN: I don’t think it’s a big leap. I don’t think it’s overly ambitious. I am the elected district attorney. I have 320 employees. I manage a $35 million budget. We do a range of things from advising the county departments, to protecting children, to collecting child support and, of course, prosecuting criminal cases. It’s a big job and I think it will prepare me very well.

wOw: Have you experienced sexism in your career? Is it a prevalent factor?

SUSAN: I can’t really say one way or the other. I think that sexism these days is generally subtle and not something that I can spend a lot of time thinking about. I would say the most identifiable sexism is that I think the media treats women elected officials more harshly, with more scrutiny than men, and … but again, it’s just nothing I can dwell on.

wOw:  I’m looking at your website and you take a no-nonsense approach to gay marriage, which you support. You know, some politicians would say, “Let’s have civil unions.” You’re just, "This is it! We need it!" From a political perspective, do you think that could become a liability for you?

SUSAN: Yes. I do. But it’s what I believe and I’ve thought a lot about it before I came to that position. I am a straight shooter. I am honest. I’m hopeful that the public will respond well to that. I can’t become wishy-washy; I can’t equivocate about things I believe just to get elected.

wOw: Minnesota has been in the spotlight recently because of the Coleman/Franken situation. What is your take on what can only be described as that debacle?

SUSAN: Well, I guess I’m taking a long view, which I generally try to do, particularly in politics, which can get kind of wrapped up in the moment. Two years from now this is just going to be a little footnote in the history books. It does seem, right now, like it’s taking a long time to sort out.

wOw: Is Coleman just acting like a big baby?