Eagan is the political place to be

SOURCE: POLITICAL ANIMAL

By Rachel E. Stassen-Berger on July 21, 2009

During two days next week, politics types in Eagan will get visits from at least 16 potential candidates for governor, the current governor, chairs of both major political parties, the Minnesota House speaker, the current auditor and the current attorney general.

On Monday, July 27 District 38 Republicans will gather for a fundraiser that will include: Gov. Tim Pawlenty, MN Republican Chair Tony Sutton and Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb and gubernatorial candidates Pat Anderson, Tom Emmer, Bill Haas, David Hann, Mike Jungbauer, Paul Kohls, and Marty Seifert, according to the organizers.

Two days later, Democrats will have their own gathering. They are holding a "family picnic" featuring state DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez & Party Associate Chair Donna Cassutt MN House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, state Auditor Rebecca Otto, Attorney General Lori Swanson, SD38 state Senator Jim Carlson, HD38A state Rep. Sandra Masin, HD38B state Rep. Mike Obermueller, and the following folks whom the organizers refer to as "gubernatorial candidates": former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, state Sens. Tom Bakk and John Marty, state Rep. Paul Thissen, former state Sen. Steve Kelley, former state Rep. Matt Entenza, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

(Neither Coleman nor Rybak have filed for governor. Kelliher hasn't either but has made moves that make it look like she will.)

The suburban district has a lot of political power in its boundaries:




•Pawlenty lives in Eagan and used to represent the district in the House.

•Attorney General Swanson is an Eaganite
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•Pat Anderson, a GOP 2010er, is the former mayor of Eagan.


•GOP deputy chair Brodkorb lives in Eagan.


•Three years ago, the state Senator and the two state House members were Republican. Now all three are Democrats.


•While the area picked Democrats for the state House last cycle and favored President Obama, it also went for Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline over his Democratic challenger and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Norm Coleman over current U.S. Sen. Al Franken.