Melendez not running for another term as DFL Party Chair
DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez says he's decided against running for another term.
Melendez says he made his decision shortly after the Election Day but wanted to hold off on the announcement until the recount in Minnesota's governor's race ended. Melendez says he called the past six years as party chair one of the most intense experiences of his life but said it's time to move on.
"This is kind of like riding a bucking bronco or holding your breath under water. No matter how good you are at it, even if you like it, you can't do it forever.
Melendez downplayed talk that there has been a riff between him and Gov.-elect Mark Dayton. Dayton, who won the DFL Primary over the endorsed candidate, criticized Melendez for not giving him a floor pass to the DFL Party Convention in April. Melendez said it was a difficult decision but said he and Dayton have been on good terms since then.
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"Ever since then, the relationship has been great," Melendez said. "The relationship is very good as far as I know."
Melendez has had mixed success as Party Chair. Democrats will control every statewide office in January but they lost both chambers of the Legislature. DFL Congressman Jim Oberstar was also defeated this year. Melendez said he would have done things differently if he knew Oberstar was going to lose but emphasized that Democrats across the country lost key races.
Melendez sent out an e-mail to the DFL State Executive Committee earlier today announcing his decision (see below). He said he wanted to let them know before tomorrow's scheduled meeting. That meeting has been postponed a week because of the blizzard but he decided to send the e-mail anyway.
The next DFL Party Chair will be decided at the next State Central Committee meeting on February 5th.
One of the names popping up to replace Melendez is Ken Martin.
He downplayed talk of a possible run when I talked to him earlier this week but said he was interested in the position.
Martin just told me he's interested in the position.
"I've been flattered by the people who called and asked me about it," Martin said. "I'll take the next couple of days to make sure it's the right decision."
Martin has been instrumental in DFL politics for the past several years. He was the campaign coordinator for John Kerry's presidential bid in 2004. In 2006, he worked on Democrat Attorney General Mike Hatch's failed gubernatorial bid. In 2008, he managed the successful efforts to increase the state sales tax and dedicate those funds for the environment, the outdoors, the arts and cultural programs. In 2010, Martin coordinated the 2010 Fund and Win Minnesota. Those two umbrella groups were responsible for funding the Alliance for a Better Minnesota, which ran millions of dollars in advertising criticizing Republican Tom Emmer.
Update: Here's a statement from Gov.-elect Mark Dayton:
"I commend and thank Brian Melendez and Donna Cassutt for their excellent work on behalf of the party. They were extremely helpful to me in my general election campaign."