“Blue Jeans To Black Tie” For Dayton Inaugural

Noon, Tuesday January 3, 2011, Governor-Elect Mark Dayton will take the oath of office at St. Paul’s Landmark Center.  He will be joined by the state’s other constitutional officers, Lt. Governor-Elect Yvonne Prettner Solon, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, State Auditor Rebecca Otto and State Attorney General Lori Swanson.  For the first time in decades, all of Minnesota’s Constitutional officers are from the DFL party. The UpTake plans to provide live coverage of the swearing in.

Dayton will celebrate the occasion the following Saturday with a “People’s Inaugural Ball” at the Minneapolis Convention Center.  Dress code for the event is “blue jeans to black tie” and Dayton himself will be in blue jeans.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or at www.daytoninauguration.org.  The $30 ticket price ($15 for students and low-income; further price reduction can be requested) includes entertainment and hors d’oeuvres.

Dayton will spend the morning of inauguration day distributing breakfast to students at Wellstone Elementary School in St. Paul.

After the inauguration Dayton will host a reception at the Capitol and the Governor’s Reception Room, activities for children and exhibits by the Minnesota Historical Society from 2pm – 4:20 pm.

Governor-Elect Mark Dayton Gets An Election Certificate

More than a month after the election, Governor-Elect Mark Dayton is officially certified as the winner of the Minnesota Governor’s race.

Governor-Elect Mark Dayton's Election Certificate Signed By Secretary of State Mark Ritchie

Pawlenty “Passes The Baton” To Governor-Elect Dayton

Current And Future MN DOT Commissioner Tom Sorel

Governor Tim Pawlenty, and Governor-Elect Mark Dayton hold a jovial joint press conference. They avoid any policy conflicts they may have had. The biggest one they could think of, was their dogs.

The two agreed that they both like Tom Sorel as Minnesota’s Transportation Commissioner. Dayton announced today that Sorel will be staying on as the head of MN DOT.

As far as other appointments, Dayton said several DFL lawmakers are among the many people who have applied for the jobs. He also indicated he expects to name his Chief Of Staff on Friday.

For other bits from the Dayton and Pawlenty news conference please read our live blog.

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Governor-Elect Dayton Thanks Labor Supporters

Minnesota Governor-Elect Mark Dayton thanks supporters at a labor meeting in St. Paul. Dayton said his 8,770 vote victory would not have been possible without labor’s support. Earlier in the day, Dayton was certified as the winner of the 2010 Governor’s race when Republican Tom Emmer conceded.

Dayton, who will be appearing with Governor Tim Pawlenty at a news conference Thursday, questioned Pawlenty’s assertion that the state’s $6.2 billion deficit is “fictional”. And said Pawlenty’s promise of no new taxes was a myth. Dayton pointed to rising property taxes as evidence.

“Now The Real Work Begins”-Governor-Elect Dayton

Democrat Mark Dayton says the election that has chosen him as Governor of Minnesota and elected a Republican majority in the Minnesota House and Senate had a message. He believes the collective wisdom of the electorate is that they want part of what each party has to offer.

“If we try to make each other look bad, ” said Dayton “we will fail the people of Minnesota.”

“Now the real work begins” said Dayton when asked what happens next.

Dayton said Republican candidate for Governor Tom Emmer called him at 10:10 AM to offer his congratulations. The two will have lunch this week.

Dayton is recruiting for positions within the administration and expects to make announcements about them soon. He says until now he has not been able to offer out positions.
Mark Dayton’s remarks- transcript
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Why Justice Anderson Lectured Emmer’s Lawyers

Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson explains why he gave such a stern lecture to former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson who was representing Tom Emmer in the Minnesota Gubernatorial recount.

Tom Emmer’s Concession Speech

Tom Emmer concedes the 2010 Governor’s race to Mark Dayton.

How Obama Helped Dayton

Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton’s (Democratic-Farm-Labor) recount director Ken Martin spoke to The UpTake about what President Obama’s October visit to Minneapolis on behalf of Dayton meant to the campaign — and how it suggested a tight race, despite certain polls showing Dayton with a nine percentage point lead at the time.

Emmer Not Likely To Challenge Recount If He Loses

Tom Emmer on election night

Republican candidate for Minnesota Governor Tom Emmer indicates if the scheduled recount of the election doesn’t go his way, he would not challenge the results in court if it is clear he cannot win.  However Emmer says if the recount uncovers irregularities such as more ballots than voters, he might make a court challenge.

The Pioneer Press’ Bill Salisbury reports Emmer made the comments in an interview at Republican Party Headquarters.

Emmer’s key quotes from the Pioneer Press story

“I don’t want to put myself or others through a futile process.”

On a court challenge if there are no irregularities found in the recount: “If not and we’re on the short end, we’re done.”

“We have no idea what the outcome will be after the recount. I don’t know what’s going to happen next week. I don’t think anybody does.”

“This is not just about this election. It’s about future ones.”

“I’m trying to assure everyone this is not by any means an attempt to delay the process,” he said. “We want it done quickly (and) efficiently, but we also want it done so that people know the system worked.”

“We’re prepared to govern if, in fact, that is what the result of the recount is,” he said. “I firmly believe this is what the good Lord has prepared me to do for the last 30 years. …

“I will not be presumptuous, though, with an 8,700-vote deficit.”

Read the full story here.

Replay -MN Supreme Court Hears GOP Recount Challenge

The Minnesota Supreme Court hears the petition the Republican Party filed last week alleging errors and omissions regarding the number of ballots counted in the Nov. 2 election. The Democrats say that this move by the GOP could delay the state-mandated gubernatorial recount, which is scheduled to begin next Monday, Nov. 29. DFL’er Mark Dayton currently holds an 8,755-vote lead over the GOP’s Tom Emmer, a number that has changed by no more than 101 votes since election day.

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Supplemental Brief From Tom Emmer Campaign

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