Dayton announces transition team

Democrat Mark Dayton has announced his transition team despite the fact that the race for governor will go to a recount.

Former campaign manager Dana Anderson will be the Transition Chief of Staff. Former campaign spokeswoman Katie Tinucci will serve as spokeswoman for the transition efforts. The transition team leadership will include several high ranking Democrats including Tina Smith and Lee Sheehy. Here's the release from Dayton:

St. Paul-Today, Mark Dayton released the following statement announcing the leadership of his transition team:

"To begin an unofficial transition for the strong possibility of becoming Governor on January 3, 2011, I have asked Tina Smith and Lee Sheehy to serve as Transition Co-Chairs. State Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon will be centrally involved in the Transition. Ruth Orrick and Michele Kelm-Helgen will serve as Senior Advisors, with others to be named shortly.

Dana Anderson will be the Transition Chief of Staff, and Katharine Tinucci will serve as the Transition Communications Director."

About the transition team leadership:

Tina Smith has served as Chief of Staff for Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and as Senior Advisor for Metropolitan Council Chair Ted Mondale during the Ventura Administration. Smith was an executive with Planned Parenthood and has served as a board member for numerous nonprofit organizations including the Guthrie Theater, The Nature Conservancy, and Growth and Justice.

Lee Sheehy's public service includes serving as Chief of Staff to Senator Amy Klobuchar, head of economic development and planning for the City of Minneapolis, and Chief Deputy Attorney General for Attorney General Hubert H. Humphrey III.

Ruth Orrick is a business consultant and former executive at Thomson West. She previously served as DFL Party Chair.

Michele Kelm-Helgen served as Chief of Staff for the Minnesota State Senate from 2006-present. Previous job experience includes management of a government relations firm and working as the Sales and Marketing Director for City Venture, a division of Control Data Corporation (now Ceridian). Michele previously was a member and chair of the Eastern Carver County School Board.

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