Minnesota Lawyer
DNC Chairman and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (far right) talks with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak at a news conference for DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton outside of the Hennepin County Government Center (staff photo: Briana Bierschabach)
DNC Chairman and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine was in Minneapolis Wednesday to push for DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton, saying he is the Minnesota candidate who will support local governments.
Kaine, who is also the former mayor of Richmond, said Dayton will be the strongest governor for local governments given his former positions as state auditor and comissioner of economic development in the Rudy Perpich administration – two positions Kaine says form strong partnerships with local governments.
Dayton said he would preserve Local Government Aid (LGA), and mentioned his recent endorsements from the Minneapolis Police Federation and the Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters. He said his GOP opponent, Tom Emmer, has proposed to completely eliminate LGA.
“Emmer’s policies are Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s policies carried to an extreme,” he said.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman criticized Pawlenty’s track record with cutting back on LGA, and forcing property taxes to increase on the local level by holding the line on state spending.
The group also railed heavily on Pawlenty for his hesitations on federal funds and his recent call to reject “Obamacare” in Minnesota.
“[Dayton] is somebody that is not known for what he is against, but what he is for,” Kaine said.
After the news conference, Republican Party of Minnesota Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb said he didn’t think it would help Dayton to have the head of the national Democratic Party visit given the current negative sentiment surrounding Democrats in Washington, D.C.
