by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

Former U.S. senator Mark Dayton said today (Monday, Oct. 26) was the most important day of his gubernatorial campaign.

Dayton appeared at a Capitol press conference to accept an endorsement for governor from the 43,000-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5.

DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton today (Oct. 24) accepted the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers (AFSCME) Council 5 endorsement, calling the biggest day of his gubernatorial campaign. In the last governor's race the union spent almost $1 million — the union includes 20,000 state employees. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

Dayton called the union’s nod of support  “an extremely important endorsement.”

The union spent nearly $1 million in the 2006 governor’s race.

In deciding its endorsement this time, union officials screened all ten DFL gubernatorial candidates and Republican Party gubernatorial candidate Pat Anderson of Dellwood.

Dayton a proven winner

Eliot Seide, Council 5 director, highlighted Dayton’s record at winning statewide office twice as a key reason the union decided to endorse the former senator. Dayton was a “proven winner,” said Seide.

Besides winning election to the U.S. Senate in 2000, Dayton also served as state auditor.

Dayton chose not to seek a second term as U.S. senator.

He indicated that serving in the Senate was chaffing — as the chief executive he could lead from the first day, Dayton said.

Seide characterized the DFL gubernatorial field as a “strong one.”

DFL candidate Mark Dayton fields questions at press conference on Monday, Oct. 26. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitlol Reporter)

But he also pointed to Dayton’s experience in heading state government agencies as vital in considering the incoming governor, in times of budget deficit, will have a scant 12 to 15 weeks to prepare a state budget.

Additionally, the union supports Dayton’s proposal to increase taxes on the top 10 percent of Minnesotans in order to meet the state budget challenge.

Offered some regrets

In taking questions, Dayton, looking back at his term in the U.S. Senate, indicated that he regretted not fully explaining at the time circumstances around his closing of his U.S. Senate Office following 9/11.

He didn’t regret doing it, Dayton explained of the closure for which he was criticized.

But he didn’t explain it very well, he concluded.

In part, he couldn’t because the decision was based on secret government reports that raised the specter of terrorist attacks on legislative offices.

He had his staff to consider, explained Dayton.

Still, the office in a sense didn’t close; some its duties were absorbed by his Minnesota Senate office and staff in Washington in other location took over other duties.

“So we kept the office open in terms of serving the people of Minnesota,” he said.

“I will do what I believe is right,” said Dayton of making tough decisions.

He’ll take the heat, he said.

Although once giving himself and the U.S. Senate on “F” grade, Dayton gave Gov. Tim Pawlenty an “F” grade on his handling of the state budget.