Not only is South Saint Paul state representative Rick Hansen not going to run for Congress, he won't be serving on the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council as a replacement for the late David Dill.
The first was by choice, but the second was a deliberate slight on the part of Speaker Kurt Daudt after the Crown Republican dithered over the appointment for nearly a month.
As the September 22, 2015 letter from Minority Leader Paul Thissen below indicates, the DFL leader had nominated Hansen to serve on the Council in an August 25 letter to the speaker.
Daudt had approved Thissen's nomination of Austin DFLer Jeanne Poppe for the Legislative Energy Commission, the minority leader's letter notes. But according to a source, after dithering for a month, Daudt has appointed Leon Lillie, DFL-North St. Paul, as the late Dill's replacement rather than the DFL caucus choice.
The Council's web site still lists the seat as vacant. But an email from Kurt Daudt's executive assistant to Council director Mark Johnson confirms the tale:
Hi Mark,The Speaker is appointing Representative Leon Lille to replace Representative Dill on the LSOHC. Attached is the appointments letter. Original hard copy is coming to you via inter office mail.Thanks - have a nice Friday and good weekend.Annie ParucciniExecutive Assistant toSpeaker Kurt Daudt651-296-8880
Here's the letter to Johnson:
Daudt's Letter Appointing Leon Lillie to Outdoor Heritage Council
Who tells Daudt to snub Thissen's choice?
This is the second time that Daudt neglected Thissen's recommendation and the third time that Republican leadership has seen to it that Hansen--an advocate for water quality, climate action and pollinators who is an active farmer as well as a turkey and deer hunter--is not on the Council he worked to create. Hansen holds degrees in biology and soil science.
To be clear, the problem here isn't Rep. Lillie, who did not appoint himself, but Daudt's taking his time only to cross Thissen.
The Daudt appointment must explain a tweet by Hansen on Thursday:
Daudt dithered for a month before ignoring Leader Thissen's recommendation again on Outdoor Heritage appoint. Who does he listen to? #mnleg
— Rep. Rick hansen (@reprickhansen) September 24, 2015
For coverage on Hansen's earlier treatment by dithering Daudt, check out our post from February, Special interest Republicans remove Rep. Rick Hansen from Outdoor Heritage Council again. We'll look into the effects of the latest dithering in a future post.
Photo: South St. Paul DFLer Rick Hansen, who continues to work and conserve a family farm near Harmony, Minnesota.
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