Dayton wants Prettner Solon to focus on seniors
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Mark Dayton picked DFL state Senator Yvonner Prettner Solon to be his running mate. Dayton made the announcement this morning in Duluth. He said she brings extensive state and local government experience to the ticket.
Dayton also said he wants Solon to lead a "senior citizens service center" to answer questions about state government. Dayton may be taking a page out of his 2000 U.S. Senate race by tasking Solon to help seniors. In 2000, Dayton paid for bus trips to Canada to help seniors buy medicine at cheaper prices. Senior citizens consistently vote in high numbers in primary and general elections. Here's video from this afternoon's presser in St. Paul:
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Here's the announcement from Duluth:
Dayton said Solon was his first and only pick for the job but the feeling wasn't mutual. Prettner Solon initially backed DFL Sen. Tom Bakk's campaign for governor. When Bakk dropped out of the race, she put her support behind Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. Rybak lost the DFL endorsement to Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher.
Kelliher called Solon a "good person and a strong legislator" during Kelliher's campaign stop in Rochester:
Democrat Matt Entenza issues this statement on Dayton's pick:
I served with both Sen. Prettner-Solon and her late husband in the state legislature and know well her commitment to the people of Minnesota. I congratulate her on her selection to Sen. Daytons ticket and look forward to seeing her on the campaign trail.
My campaign is about making Minnesota great again creating jobs by embracing the clean energy economy and ensuring every child gets a world-class education. I look forward to the contrast of ideas all of us will have the opportunity to present Minnesotans in the coming months.