Mark Dayton ended up in the Governor’s office, but where did the rest of the 2010 field land? Where most politicians land, back working in government.
After serving seven terms in the Minnesota House, former school teacher and 2010 gubernatorial candidate, Marty Seifert is now lobbying for Flaherty & Hood with a focus on outstate Minnesota. Clients include the Coalition of Greater MN Cities—which is working for a $45 million increase in local government aid to smaller cities as well as increasing the state broadband fund from $20 million to $200 million. The organization also opposes local tax levy limits.
Former House Speaker Democrat Margaret Anderson Kelliher now serves as President & CEO of The Minnesota High Tech Association and currently chairs Governor Dayton’s Broadband task force—where she could run into her former colleague Seifert. That task force made the recommendation for $200 million in new broadband state spending. Ms. Kelliher doesn’t appear to have any background to support her work representing high-tech interests. Her legislative resume stated her occupation as a “Community Organizer/Writer.”
U.S. Rep Tom Emmer worked as a lobbyist immediately following his defeat for Governor in 2010. He was a paid lobbyist for Minneapolis Radiation Oncology Physicians where he worked against lifting a ban on new cancer radiation clinics. He terminated that role after announcing he’d run for U.S. Congress where he now represents Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District.