Ex-Minnesota Attorney General Warren Spannaus Dies at 86

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Former Minnesota Attorney General Warren Spannaus, who ran for governor in 1982, has died. He was 86.

Spannaus died Monday at a Minneapolis area hospital of complications of cancer, his family told the Dorsey & Whitney law firm, where he was a retired partner.

Spannaus was known for promoting Minnesota's landmark gun-control law and his
longtime friendship and professional partnership with former Vice President Walter Mondale.

The St. Paul native was elected attorney general in 1970 and re-elected twice,
serving until 1983. He won the DFL Party endorsement for governor in 1982 but lost in the primary to the eventual winner, the late Gov. Rudy Perpich.

Gun-rights advocates created bumper stickers with the slogan ``Dump Spannaus'' when he ran for governor.

His funeral is scheduled Dec. 4 at Lake Harriet United Methodist Church in
Minneapolis.