T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter

Democrats endorsed former state Rep. Rebecca Otto of May Township for state auditor Sunday, June 11 at the three-day DFL State Convention in Rochester.

Delegates also endorsed House Minority Leader Matt Entenza for attorney general and former Perpich Administration official Mark Ritchie for secretary of state.

Otto will face Republican State Auditor Pat Anderson in the November election.

ìI donít know if that bulldog will help her at all,î said Otto jokingly of Andersonís inflatable campaign mascot.

Otto contends that cities are reluctant to turn to the Auditorís Office because itís partisan.

She also questions an Auditorís Officeís 2003 study on local government aid (LGA) ó a study that emerged shortly before the LGA budget debate at the Capitol ó arguing it served to weaken local government.

Ottoís pledge

In her speech to delegates, Otto, a former Forest Lake School Board member, pledged to find whatís good in local government and pass the information along.

And she opined on the nature of local government funding.

ìWe canít stand for public safety that is fee based,î she told delegates.

Otto faced no endorsement challenge and was endorsed by proclamation.

She took to the convention stage Sunday morning to the tune of ìRevolutionî by the Beatles.

Entenza, Ritchie

Entenza, like Otto, faced no endorsement challenge at the convention.

In a far ranging speech to delegates, Entenza warned against excessive wiretaps by the federal government and also spoke of taking legal action against the federal education law, No Child Left Behind law. Entenza also spoke in favor of universal healthcare.

He proposed expanding Minnesota data protection law ó a reaction against the U.S Veterans Administration data theft ó 420,000 Minnesota veterans were put at-risk by the theft of the data-rich laptop, said Entenza.

Entenza will face Republican Rep. Jeff Johnson, R-Plymouth, in the race for attorney general.

The third constitutional office candidate endorsed by the DFL last weekend was Mark Ritchie of Minneapolis.

Ritchie will now challenge two-term Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer in the November election.

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