Patricia Anderson (born June 4, 1966) served as the 17th State Auditor of Minnesota, from 2003 to 2007. Prior to this, she was mayor of Eagan, Minnesota for four years after serving as city council member for eight years. She also owned Capitol Verification, a telemarketing business. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and later an M.A. in Public Administration from Hamline University.

In 2002, Anderson defeated State Treasurer Carol Johnson (DFL). (She was elected as Pat Anderson Awada, the name she used prior to a divorce in 2004.)

In 2006, Anderson lost her bid for reelection to Rebecca Otto (DFL).

In January 2007, Governor Tim Pawlenty nominated her for a position is his cabinet as Commissioner of Employee Relations.

Controversy

In 2001, while serving as mayor of Eagan, Anderson was criticized for allegedly racist comments made in an interview with Minneapolis/St. Paul newsweekly City Pages. Anderson was quoted as saying "This is where all of our crime is[...]It’s mostly African Americans fighting with African immigrants. It’s everything–drugs, assaults, knife fights. We had to have a police presence here."

Electoral history

• 2006 Race for state Auditor
• Rebecca Otto (DFL), 52%
• Pat Anderson (R) (inc.), 41%
• Lucy Gerold (IP), 5%
• Dave Berger (G), 2%

• 2002 Race for state Auditor
• Pat Anderson Awada (R), 45%
• Carol Johnson (DFL), 44%
• Dave Hutcheson (IP), 8%

References

External links

• Campaign website