Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report - Vol. 1, Issue 19 - 9/23/2005

In this issue: The Ambassador Is Ben; Change At The Top For McLaughlin; Breakfast With Kelly Doran; Minneapolis City Council: Post Election; Hutchinson Off To Quiet Start; Bits & Pieces; Politics In Minnesota: 20 Years Ago; Lobbyist Watch; Setting The Record Straight

The Ambassador Is Ben

Remember all those weeks we teased the fact that a Minnesotan was going to be named U.S. Ambassador to a foreign country by President George Bush? The name is out and official. It's former MN Bush campaign chair Ben Whitney and the country is Norway. Congrats to Ben, his spouse Mary and their family. [And kudos to KSTP political reporter and At Issue host Tom Hauser for breaking the news. He got a tip from an anonymous caller and found verification on an obscure place on the White House web site. Must be obscure, we can't find it and thus cannot provide the link.]

Change At The Top For McLaughlin

Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin's campaign for Minneapolis mayor got shaken up today (Friday) when Daren Broton resigned as campaign manager. [Broton ran what Democrats thought was a strong race for Teresa Daly last year in the Second Congressional District against incumbent GOP Congressman John Kline.] To date, McLaughlin has made an impressive showing in his bid to unseat incumbent Mayor RT Rybak. McLaughlin can likely absorb the change. But because this is not the first time he has lost a key staffer, some people wonder if the candidate has some issues with micromanagement. Broton will likely be snapped right up by a DFLer running a statewide race.

Breakfast With Kelly Doran

One of your publishers (Blois Olson) was scheduled to have breakfast this week with Kelly Doran, the former DFL U.S. Sen. and current gubernatorial candidate. What was supposed to be a get-to-know you conversation turned into an inside view on the story of the week for political insiders--Doran as GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty's new DFL opponent.

Accompanied by John Wodele, his campaign chief of staff, Doran ordered a ham and cheese omelet, and settled in to talk about his campaign. (Wodele ordered two eggs basted - with bacon - although he got sausage instead.)

Exuding confidence and candid opinions about the race, Doran was clearly comfortable holding court. Doran offers an internal glimpse of himself in these meals which he has had with many in the Capitol Press corps. They help make him human and accessible to the people who will write about him - an important strategy for insiders trying to figure out what is driving him - this was clearly the goal of the breakfast.

Doran is firm in the reason he switched races: because of family--he and his second spouse have a blended family with four children. This is a realistic concern for most people, although political cynics view his switching races as a sign of weakness, in terms of the Sen. race.

Doran's biggest weakness appears to be his obsession with the inside baseball of his competition and the process of politics, something that is a classic candidate mistake. However, Doran seems to be enjoying the game side of politics and trying to read his competition - just as he would in a business deal. If done well, this perspective could bring a different instinct to this race and what are likely to be lively debates.

Clearly he thinks he can appeal to the "normal guy" - he has found others in office to be whiny and previous DFL standard bearers to be "jerks." That's honesty we appreciate as the way non-political people assess most politicians. But it's also a frankness that could have Wodele scrambling the way he did with former Governor Jesse Ventura's off-the-cuff comments.

Doran is a moderate. And he clearly wants to be known that way. His campaign team and his personal wealth make him a factor in any race--but his war chest goes much further in the governor's race than it would have in the Sen. race. Or better put--he'll get more bang for his buck.

The biggest question that was posed about the Doran move was, what about Attorney General Mike Hatch? [Hatch is expected to officially begin his campaign this fall.] Doran isn't fazed. In fact, he immediately talks about the fact that one of the reasons he entered the race was that he was tired of parties anointing candidates for office much the way the GOP picked Mark Kennedy as their Sen. candidate.

Doran is likely to become the punching bag of liberal DFLers and supporters of other candidates in the race. One potential issue is his previous support of Republicans, including the House GOP Caucus, and a campaign finance violation for supporting GOP State Sen. candidate Pat Thomas in a race against former DFL State Senator Len Price in Woodbury. [Doran had solicited campaign contributions for Thomas on (prohibited) corporate stationary.]

When asked about the violation Doran was upfront about it, explaining that Price was sponsoring specific legislation unfavorable to a Doran development. Doran did what any developer would do, and not aware of the corporate prohibition, mixed politics with business. Certainly the Campaign Finance Board reprimand letter is going to become the fodder for many attacks from supporters of other candidates.

All of this plus the pending battle between Doran and Hatch could give the state a truly nasty primary. That would be a huge advantage to Pawlenty--and something DFLers can't afford if they want to claim the governorship and keep the Sen. seat, too.

Minneapolis City Council: Post Election

Because of Green Party victories and division in the Minneapolis DFL, there has not been a clear majority on the city council the last four years. That could change this election. And, we think that change could enhance the stature of the council, making it a stronger public-policy body to reckon with beyond the limits of the City of Lakes.

Four years ago people were willing to give Mayor RT Rybak a chance to lead. If Rybak is reelected he will likely have had a close race with opponent Peter McLaughlin. This will be empowering for the council, and more so if some kind of "super majority" of moderates (for Minneapolis) win their city council races. Our notes on the hot races (in the order of their heat):

Ward 5

The most watched race between two incumbents Don Samuels (DFL) and Natalie Johnson Lee (Green). We wrote about this race a few weeks ago. In order for there to be a super majority of any kind Samuels would have to triumph in this race.

Ward 10

Another of the most definitive races between Ralph Remington, an African American anti-development activist, and Scott Persons, a youthful DFL operative and neighborhood association leader who has been around politics for some time. The race for this seat--which includes that transforming neighborhood that is Uptown--is significant because incumbent Dan Nizolek is retiring. Critics say Nizolek has been an ineffective council member at city hall, where colleagues have found him petty and myopic.

Persons and Remington present two distinctive candidates running to represent the most distinctive and changing part of the city. A win by Persons would mean a more powerful pro-progress council. Remington could put a cog in the wheels of development as he supports moratoriums for changes and building in the neighborhood.

Ward 13

Another race to watch is in Ward 13, where former council member and moderate DFLer Lisa McDonald (who ran for Mayor four years ago) is seeking to return to the council, from a different ward against DFL-endorsed Betsy Hodges. Hodges won the primary with more votes than any other ward in the city, making this race an uphill battle for McDonald. If elected, McDonald would bring the potential of a moderate majority back to the council. Hodges won't be as liberal as many others, but certainly would be less moderate than McDonald or current incumbent Barrett Lane, who is leaving the council.

Ward 6

Another race between two incumbents was going to be Robert Lilligren and Dean Zimmermann, we expect this won't be much of a race in the end with the cloud of accusations over Zimmerman. Lillegren is the most moderate of these two very liberal council members.

Ward 8

The final seat that could reshape the council is the race between current Park Board Member Marie Hauser and Elizabeth Glidden, a workers rights lawyer from the Kingfield neighborhood. Hauser has the strong support of the unions, and incumbent and unchallenged council member Barb Johnson. Glidden has the support of more liberal state Reps. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Minneapolis) and Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis). If Hauser wins, look for Johnson to be a possible City Council President and a much more visible counter to the mayor than current President Paul Ostrow is.

Hutchinson Off To Quiet Start

Despite the lack of the usual kick-off press conference, Peter Hutchinson, the former Minneapolis school superintendent and Governor Rudy Perpich's finance commissioner, is quietly running for governor (as an Independent). We can't find a webpage for his campaign, but we did find an email about a series of fundraisers that he has coming up.

The names are not well-known, which could be to Hutchinson's advantage, but the neighborhoods and addresses speak volumes. Some Minnesota moderate-elites are getting behind this dark horse.

Parties for Peter listed in the email:

Monday, September 19, home of Uri and Melissa Camerena (the old Pillsbury mansion by the Mpls. Institute of Art), 116 East 22nd St., Mpls., 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 20, home of Adrienne Diercks, 4404 Wentworth Avenue So., Mpls., 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 22, home of Win and Binky Rockwell, 1901 Knox Avenue So., Mpls., 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 4, home of Marcia Peck and David Kamminga, 11907 Cedar Lake Road, Minnetonka, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 11, hosted by Cecily Hines and Tom Pettus and others 117 Portland Avenue (lofts down by the river), Mpls., 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Monday, October 17, home of Chris Mahai and Jim Garalski, 168 6th Street E, Suite 4004, downtown St. Paul
Tuesday, October 18, home of Patti and Jev Baskin, 9805 Oakridge Trail, Minnetonka, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 27, home of Jean and John Wolf, 404 North Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Monday, November 14, home of Frank and Frances Wilkinson, 1620 Mount Curve Avenue, Mpls., 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Democrats fear that Hutchinson will get much deserved respect in the race, perhaps enough to become Tim Penny-esque and peel enough DFL votes from their nominee. That could give GOP incumbent Governor Tim Pawlenty a solid winning plurality, like he had in 2002.

Politics In Minnesota: Bits & Pieces...
--Tracking people and events--

Rep. Dan Dorman (R-Albert Lea) made Leno. During a mock-game show "Battle of the Jaywalk All-Stars" on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, a young, long-haired, baggy clothes, crooked visor wearing skater "dude" named Tyler from Albert Lea said "Dan Dorman" twice when asked about politicos Dan Quayle and Al Gore. Is Dorman using this kid in his campaign?

Congratulations to Hubert H. "Buck" Humphrey IV, his wife Heidi and their oldest, Alexis, on the birth of their Alexis' sister, Sarah Wray, who was born today (Friday, September 23) at 3:56 AM, weighing 7 pounds 14 ounces.

Ciresi in play? The Kelly Doran switch to the gubernatorial race caused many to speculate that there was a deal cut between the Mike Ciresi and the Doran campaigns. Doran said he hadn't met with Ciresi in person but that he did call him out of courtesy Tuesday afternoon before the Wednesday announcement. Hmmm. Either way we hear that Ciresi has made up his mind and will announce his U.S. Sen. intentions soon.

DFL U.S. Sen. Candidate Patty Wetterling reportedly has recently polled likely DFL-endorsing delegates and the results were 70% undecided, and that Wetterling and the other DFL candidate, Amy Klobuchar, were even among the 30% who were decided.

Word on the street is that DFL Attorney General Mike Hatch will announce for Governor on October 23^rd or 24^th and that House Minority Leader Matt Entenza (DFL-St. Paul) will follow quickly behind to announce a run for AG.

Dave Johnson returning? Former highly-regarded and politically savvy DFL State Senator Dave Johnson from Bloomington is said to be considering running for Attorney General if Hatch is a candidate for Governor.

Former Pioneer Press reporter and Almanac contributor Gail Marks Jarvis' daught er is a candidate on The Apprentice this season. Rebecca Jarvis has an impressive bio--but wasn't heard from much in the first episode.

Roll Call's Lou Jacobson wrote a fascinating article, "The Body Slam: Will Schwarzenegger Be Undone Like Ventura?," that is only available to paid subscribers.

Because we trust most of our readers aren't Roll Call subscribers, some highlights: Writes (and nails) Jacobson, "But onetime wrestler Jesse Ventura (I-MN) left office in 2003 after one, stormy, underachieving term. [Emphasis is ours.] Jacobson notes that both men's celebrity status seemed to magnify their flaws, and that both antagonized their legislatures. PIM publisher Blois Olson said Ventura probably figured that "his personality as a wrestler was always anti-establishment, so why not be that way in politics, too?" PIM publisher Sarah Janecek was glad Jacobson chose to quote the part of the conversation she had with him where she wasn't mincing any words, "It became clear that it wasn't about the people of Minnesota. Jesse Ventura was always about Jesse Ventura. My advice to Arnold is to keep his ego in check."

Last week, we wrote about the lack of public outrage over corruption at Minneapolis city hall--"The Muck That Is Minneapolis City Government." The Star Tribune's Steve Berg emailed us to point out that we incorrectly described the recent Minneapolis city councilmen's crimes (see the specific corrections at the end of this issue). Berg also interestingly pondered, "maybe it's that the standard of outrage for council misbehavior has a higher threshold here than elsewhere." Turns out Berg's pondering was also enlightened. He wrote a fascinating story in 2003 about how "the standard for notoriety at Minneapolis City Hall was set decades ago, as an era of jazz, soaring stocks and bootleg hooch neared its peak." Between December 1928 and March 1929, a Hennepin County grand jury indicted six aldermen (a seventh escaped charges after ratting on his colleagues), a car dealer, a dry cleaner, an oil broker and others from as far away as St. Louis and Chicago. The prosecuting county attorney, Floyd Bjornsterne, rode the headlines to the governor's office. What a shame that Berg's rich and still highly relevant research and writing are lost in the Star Tribune's paid archives.

In her story about Kelly Doran switching from the U.S. Sen. to the gubernatorial race, The St. Paul Pioneer Press' Rachel Stassen-Berger quoted Bud Philbrook, another DFL gubernatorial candidate. Philbrook served in the House representing Roseville in the mid-1970s and founded the wildly successful Global Volunteers program. Read more about Bud.

Former Hennepin County Attorney and DFL gubernatorial candidate Mike Freeman has a website up. Freeman is running, again, for Hennepin County attorney in 2006.

Urban liberal Minneapolis park lovers take note. At a fundraiser held several weeks ago at Bar Lurcat, GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced that his bonding bill proposal for 2006 will include as much as $1.9 million to keep the Lake of the Isles restoration moving forward. Some of the stateliest homes in the city grace the lake, which, more accurately, should currently be dubbed a swamp. And, the parkway is full of potholes. The project has been a difficult sell in St. Paul. Wealthy home owners and drivers of BMWs and Land Rovers complaining about their shocks don't exactly make for a sympathetic lobby.

Policy Wonks rejoice: The Great North Alliance has just released it's Opportun ity Forecast that benchmarks the Twin Cities region's economic competitiveness and innovative capacity. The full report can be downloaded at no cost by registering at TheGreatNorth.com. Note: The Great North Alliance is a client of e-stategy.com.

Also, yesterday the Citizens League released their annual property tax survey of 203 Minnesota communities. Sink your teeth into that data.

Politics In Minnesota: 20 Years Ago
--How political time flies--

[Publisher's note: Our reader survey results showed that many PIM readers enjoy this section, so we'll occasionally include "20 Years Ago." Former PIM The Newsletter subscribers will (correctly) surmise that this section is derived from 20-year-old issues of The Newsletter, then written by DJ Leary and Wy Spano.]

The Star Tribune's Lori Sturdevant crafted a terrific column last Sunday about former Gov. Rudy Perpich. Her column was timed to the 10-year anniversary of Perpich's death. Your publishers, paging through old issues of PIM The Newsletter, have also been struck by the prescience of Perpich and we wrote about it in May.

Perpich was first elected in 1982, reelected in 1986 and defeated by Arne Carlson in 1990. Carlson also explored running against Perpich in 1986. Twenty years ago, DJ Leary and Wy Spano wrote a story they dubbed, "She Gives Good Divorce." It follows, verbatim:

Everyone should have an ex-wife like [then] Minneapolis city council member Barbara Carlson (Independent). The irrepressible Carlson, who's unopposed for reelection, is helping her former husband, Arne Carlson, in his quest for the Governorship. Though Arne Carlson is the best known of the Independent-Republican gubernatorial candidates, money is still a problem. Enter Barbara Carlson. First, we're told, she loaned Arne $5,000 from her campaign committee. [Now] she's hosting a $100 breakfast fundraiser at the Minnesota Club. Says the fundraiser invitation, "Arne and Barbara Together Again." Why is Barbara Carlson helping, especially since both she Arne are happily remarried? "Listen," says Carlson, B., "I've been trying to help that guy become Governor for too long to give up now."

Politics In Minnesota: Lobbyist Watch
--Who is working what issues--

From the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board:

• New lobbyist registrations:
  • Darrel Bunge, for Magellan Midstream Partners.
  • Steve Burkee, for the National Association of Home Builders.
  • Paul Cassidy, of Leonard, Street and Deinard, for the Minnesota Athletic Trainers Association and State Farm Insurance. The athletic trainers are in a licensing / turf war with the physical therapists. The complexities of licensing issues at the Capitol were richly detailed by Star Tribune business columnist H. J. Cummins. For example, who knew that there's a MN law spelling out the licensure of "horse tooth floaters" (the people who file the sharp edges off horse's teeth)?!
  • Ted Grindal, Allison Hartle and Rebecca Klett of Lockridge Grindal Nauen, for the Minnesota Alliance for Safe Highways.
  • Chris Grubb, for the National Wildlife Federation.
  • Doug Stang, former GOP Representative and deputy commissioner of Health, of Lockridge Grindal Nauen, for the city of St. Michael and Hennepin County.
• Terminated lobbyist registrations:
  • Terri Velner, for the Buyers Health Care Action Group.

Politics In Minnesota: Setting The Record Straight

Last issue, in a story about the St. Paul mayor's race, we used the word "p***ed" when we should have written "ticked off." Apologies to any readers who were offended.

Also last issue, in our story, "The Muck That Is Minneapolis City Government," we wrote, "three Minneapolis City Council members taking bribes." That was sloppy shorthand on our part for the following facts. Former city council member Joe Biernat was convicted on five felony charges relating to allegations that he received plumbing work in exchange for a vote (he served 19 months). Council member Brian Herron resigned and pled guilty to extortion from a developer (his sentence was one year). Current council member Dean Zimmerman is under investigation, but not yet charged, for taking bribes in exchange for supporting zoning changes.