Those who have Dayton’s ear
Gov.-elect Mark Dayton is busy assembling his cabinet.
His Chief of Staff, Tina Smith, told me 1,500 people have submitted resumes to the transition website. I'm also told that they have reached out to various organizations, including the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, state employee unions and other organizations, for a list of possible candidates.
In the meantime, Dayton has assembled a team to help him with the transition. Here's the list (in alphabetical order) and a brief bio:
Dana Anderson: Dayton's Deputy Chief of Staff. She was Dayton's campaign manager.
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Peter Benner: Public Policy consultant who also served as Executive Director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 6.
Jeff Blodgett: Runs Wellstone Action. He was state director for Barack Obama's campaign in 2008 and ran Paul Wellstone's U.S. Senate campaigns.
Tom Borman: Dayton's lifelong friend who worked on several of his campaigns. He also served as Dayton's Finance Chair in 2010.
Cindy Jesson: Director of Hamline University's Health Law Institute. Former Deputy Attorney General under Skip Humphrey.
Josie Johnson: Co-Chair of Dayton's transition. She has a long history of community involvement which includes the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and the Minneapolis Urban League.
Michelle Kelm-Helgen: Dayton's Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs. Kelm-Helgen also served as Chief of Staff to DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller.
Roger Moe: Former DFL Senate Majority Leader and DFL candidate for governor in 2002.
Andrea Mokros: Dayton's Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications. Served as Deputy Chief of Staff to DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar and did advance work for the White House for domestic and international trips.
John Ongaro: St. Louis County lobbyist who took a leave to help with Dayton's transition.
Ruth Orrick: Campaign consultant and former executive with Thomson West. She is a former DFL Party Chair.
Yvonne Prettner Solon: Lt. Gov.-elect. She is a state Senator from Duluth who specialized in health care, senior issues and energy issues.
Lee Sheehy: served as Chief of Staff to DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Chief Deputy Attorney General for Skip Humphrey and head of Economic Development and Planning for the City of Minneapolis.
Tina Smith: Dayton's Chief of Staff. She served as Chief of Staff to Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and ran several statewide campaigns.
Robin Sternberg: Board member for the Minneapolis Park Foundation, director of external relations with Great Neighborhoods Development Corporation.
Katharine Tinucci: Dayton's Press Secretary. She served as chief spokeswoman for the Dayton Campaign.