Capitol View: November 8, 2010 Archive

Dayton announces transition team

Posted at 3:36 PM on November 8, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, MN Legislature

Democrat Mark Dayton has announced his transition team despite the fact that the race for governor will go to a recount.

Former campaign manager Dana Anderson will be the Transition Chief of Staff. Former campaign spokeswoman Katie Tinucci will serve as spokeswoman for the transition efforts. The transition team leadership will include several high ranking Democrats including Tina Smith and Lee Sheehy. Here's the release from Dayton:

St. Paul-Today, Mark Dayton released the following statement announcing the leadership of his transition team:

"To begin an unofficial transition for the strong possibility of becoming Governor on January 3, 2011, I have asked Tina Smith and Lee Sheehy to serve as Transition Co-Chairs. State Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon will be centrally involved in the Transition. Ruth Orrick and Michele Kelm-Helgen will serve as Senior Advisors, with others to be named shortly.

Dana Anderson will be the Transition Chief of Staff, and Katharine Tinucci will serve as the Transition Communications Director."
About the transition team leadership:

Tina Smith has served as Chief of Staff for Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and as Senior Advisor for Metropolitan Council Chair Ted Mondale during the Ventura Administration. Smith was an executive with Planned Parenthood and has served as a board member for numerous nonprofit organizations including the Guthrie Theater, The Nature Conservancy, and Growth and Justice.

Lee Sheehy's public service includes serving as Chief of Staff to Senator Amy Klobuchar, head of economic development and planning for the City of Minneapolis, and Chief Deputy Attorney General for Attorney General Hubert H. Humphrey III.

Ruth Orrick is a business consultant and former executive at Thomson West. She previously served as DFL Party Chair.

Michele Kelm-Helgen served as Chief of Staff for the Minnesota State Senate from 2006-present. Previous job experience includes management of a government relations firm and working as the Sales and Marketing Director for City Venture, a division of Control Data Corporation (now Ceridian). Michele previously was a member and chair of the Eastern Carver County School Board.

Emmer surfaces (to ask for money)

Posted at 5:04 PM on November 8, 2010 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, Recount 2010

Republican Tom Emmer has kept an extremely low profile. He was in Canada over the weekend to watch his son's hockey game. Reporters were not informed of his meeting today with Gov. Pawlenty until Emmer left the State Capitol. Here's the two sentence statement that Emmer campaign spokesman Carl Kuhl released about the meeting several hours after it was finished.

"Governor Pawlenty and Tom Emmer had a productive meeting this morning to discuss transition. They were joined by members of the Pawlenty Administration and a senior advisor to Representative Emmer."

But Emmer's campaign issued an e-mail to supporters asking for a financial contribution to fund the MNGOP's recount efforts.

After over 16 months of campaigning, Election Day has now passed. Jacquie and I can't express enough what an honor and a privilege it has been to run for governor. We have campaigned on a positive message of government living within its means, lower taxes, and job creation. The response we received has been overwhelming, and we appreciate all the support.

As the certification and potential recount process begins, allow us one last opportunity to thank you for the hard work, dedication, time, treasure and effort you have put into this campaign.

My family and I are blessed to have the support of so many throughout this great state.If you wish to volunteer your time or make a donation to assist the recount efforts, please contact the Republican Party of Minnesota.

Should we prevail, I look forward to the privilege of serving all Minnesotans as we move our great state in a positive direction.

Democrat Mark Dayton is scheduled to meet with Governor Pawlenty tomorrow at 4pm.

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