MINNEAPOLIS — The race to replace current State Auditor and gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Otto has largely remained quiet – until now.
Jack Dickinson, a small business owner announced his decision to run for the now open State Auditor seat on Monday, making him the second candidate to seek the Democratic endorsement for the office.
As reported by Alpha News, Otto announced in January that she would be running for Governor of Minnesota.
A father of two girls, Dickinson touts his experience in the business world. For most of his adult life, Dickinson has worked for his father at Sand Creek Post & Beam, Inc. In 2008, Dickinson started a small business that was bought out by his father’s company and became CEO of Sand Creek Post & Beam, Inc. in 2013.
Along with his business experience, Dickinson is a graduate of Macalester College and is looking to obtain his second masters degree in Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Policy at the University of Minnesota. He already has an Executive MBA from the University of Minnesota.
In his initial announcement, Dickinson calls for accountability.
“We need to examine our efforts to create jobs and train our workforce,” Dickinson says in a statement. “If government policies are holding people back, or leaving certain groups behind, it needs to be brought to the attention of the people to hold our lawmakers accountable.”
However, he has taken issue with attempts by Republican lawmakers to limit the role of the State Auditor’s office.
“The Republican effort to outsource government oversight is a mistake,” Dickinson said in a statement. “However, if they are successful, I see an opportunity for the State Auditor to take a broader look at our
institutions, and ask if our tax dollars are working for all Minnesotans.”
Dickinson joins Jon Tollefson, a lobbyist for the Nurses Union, in the race for State Auditor. Tollefson has prior political aspirations. According to Ballotpedia, Tollefson ran as the Democratic candidate for State House in district 44B in 2014, before running for congress against U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen in the third congressional district.
So far, no Republican has announced their intention to run for seat held by Otto.
Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
