Anderson served as a city council member of Eagan, Minnesota, from 1991 to 1998, and as mayor from 1998 to 2002.[1] In 2002, City Pages named her the state's best mayor.[5]
From 2008 to 2009, Anderson served as president of the Minnesota Free Market Institute, a right-wing think tank. She said that as president she hoped to expand the institute by adding personnel and partnering with nonprofits with similar goals.[6] After Anderson left, the organization was merged into the Center of the American Experiment, last filing tax returns in 2011.[7][8]
Anderson was elected as Pat Awada, the name she had before her divorce in 2004.[1][9] During her term as auditor, Governor Pawlenty called for cuts across the state budget, and Anderson cut staff, earning a reputation as a "taxpayer watchdog".[10][11]
Anderson ran for reelection in 2006, losing to the DFL nominee, State Representative Rebecca Otto.[12][1]
Commissioner of Employee Relations
In January 2007, Governor Pawlenty nominated Anderson to serve as Commissioner of Department of Employee Relations. Her responsibilities included the merger of that agency into the Department of Finance.[1][10]
2010 run for governor and state auditor
On July 15, 2009, Anderson announced that she was running for governor of Minnesota in the 2010 election, calling herself a "Libertarian-style Republican" who opposes corporate subsidies.[13] On January 12, 2010, Anderson announced that she was withdrawing from the governor's race to run for state auditor.[14] Anderson again lost to incumbent Rebecca Otto.[12]
Republican National Committeewoman
On April 16, 2011, Anderson was elected national committeewoman for Minnesota to the Republican National Committee to serve out the remaining term of Evie Axdahl, who retired.[4] On May 19, 2012, Janet Biehoffer defeated Anderson in her quest for a full term as a national committeewoman to the RNC.[15][16]
Shortly after being elected to the Republican National Committee, Anderson became a lobbyist for Canterbury Park Racetrack. At the time, the Minnesota Republican Party Platform opposed expanding gambling in Minnesota.[17] Many Republicans criticized Anderson for failing to disclose her intention to become a lobbyist for a gambling enterprise while running for the RNC.[18][19][20]
