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Reprinted from
Posted: 6/11/06
Democrats endorse former
Rep. Rebecca Otto for state
auditor
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
Democrats endorsed former state representative Rebecca Otto of
Stillwater for state auditor Sunday (June 11) at their state convention
in Rochester.
Delegates also endorsed House Minority Leader Matt Entenza for attorney
general and former Perpich Administration official Mark Ritchie for
secretary of state.
Otto will face Republican State Auditor Pat Anderson in the November
election.
"I don't know if that bulldog will help her at all," said Otto jokingly
of Anderson's inflatable campaign mascot.
Otto contends that cities are reluctant to turn to the Auditor's Office
because it's partisan.
She also questions an Auditor's Office's 2003 study on local government
aid (LGA) -- a study that emerged shortly before the LGA budget debate
at the Capitol -- arguing it served to weaken local government
In her speech to delegates, Otto pledged to find what's good in local
government and pass the information along.
And she opined on the nature of local government funding. "We can't
stand for public safety that is fee based," she told delegates.
Otto faced no endorsement challenged and was endorsed by proclamation.
She took to the convention stage Sunday morning to the tune of
"Revolution" by the Beatles.
Entenza, like Otto, faced no endorsement challenge at the convention.
In a far-ranging speech to delegates, Entenza warned against excessive
wiretaps by the federal government and also spoke of taking legal action
against federal No Child Left Behind law.
Entenza also spoke in favor of universal health care.
He proposed expanding Minnesota data protection law -- a reaction
against the U.S Veterans Administration data theft -- 420,000 Minnesota
veterans were put at-risk by the theft of the data-rich laptop, said
Entenza.
Entenza will face Republican Rep. Jeff Johnson, R-Plymouth, in the race
for attorney general.
The third constitutional office candidate endorsed by DFLers was Mark
Ritchie of Minneapolis.
Ritchie will now challenge two-term Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer in
the November election.
Ritchie did face a convention challenge from attorney Christian Sande.
But Sande withdrew from the race after one ballot.
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