The Capitol Note: Former DFL leader Entenza announces state auditor bid

1) Former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza made a last minute filing on Tuesday to run for state auditor against fellow DFLer Rebecca Otto.

Entenza touted his support of gay marriage and his opposition to Voter ID in a news release announcing his candidacy for the constitutional office.

“The current Auditor, Rebecca Otto, has had a low profile but as a legislator she voted with Republicans to place a ban on marriage equality on the ballot and voted in support of Voter ID legislation restricting Minnesotan’s access to voting,” according to the Entenza release.

DFL Party Chair Ken Martin took aim at Entenza for targeting a Democrat in the race. Otto received the party’s endorsement for the position last weekend. “Although he was a one-time House DFL leader, Matt Entenza has a history of running in DFL primaries,” Martin said in a statement. “His last-minute filing is an insult to the hard-working DFLers he has to win over.”

2) Rep. Jim Abeler and former lawmaker Phil Krinkie went two different directions in two separate races on Tuesday.

Abeler announced that he’ll primary businessman Mike McFadden in August for a shot at taking on Sen. Al Franken in November. Krinkie said on Tuesday that he’s dropping out of the Sixth Congressional District race where former state Rep. Tom Emmer looks to be the favorite to succeed Rep. Michele Bachmann, according to the St. Cloud Times. Krinkie’s exit leaves a primary between Emmer and Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah looming.

3) Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles will continue forward with a review of MNsure’s ability to correctly determine public program eligibility in spite of a federal order not to do so, Minnesota Public Radio reports.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services told states that they are developing a pilot project to figure out the accuracy of Medicaid eligibility determinations. In Minnesota, Medicaid is called Medical Assistance.

“The reason we have external auditors, independent auditors, is because you need somebody from the outside to come in and hold people accountable what they’ve pledged to do,” Nobles said.

COMINGS & GOINGS

• Former DFL legislator Andy Dawkins announced on Tuesday that he will run for Attorney General as a Green Party candidate, according to the Pioneer Press. Dawkins served eight terms in the Legislature beginning in 1987, and ran an unsuccessful mayoral campaign in St. Paul in 1993. He is married to Ellen Anderson, herself a former DFL state senator representing St. Paul.
• One-time DFL Party chairman Brian Melendez will be the new managing partner at Dykema Gossett law firm, MinnPost reports. Melendez was chairman of the party from 2005-2011, and is also a former president of the Minesota State Bar Association.
• Diversity Council, a nonprofit that works in concert with Racial Equity Minnesota, is hiring for a public relations and marketing staffer. The position calls for three-to-five years in racial or social justice work and/or a similar level of experience in PR or marketing. Salary is $60,000. Submit cover letter, short organizational profile, resume, three references and a short writing sample to [email protected].
• Lobbyist Gary Cerkvenik has deleted his registrations to advocate for a pair of educational interests in northern Minnesota. Cerkvenik will no longer represent the Eveleth-Gilbert Public Schools or Virginia Public Schools; he was the only advocate on record for either organization.