How To Get Ahead In Minnesota Politics

So late last week, Governor Dayton appointed 34 year old Adam Duininck to head the Met Council – the unelected, unaccountable body that has dictatorial control over metro-area land, transit and growth policy.

Duininck is taking the job as the Legislature prepares to increase its scrutiny of the Met Council, which in 2015 has an operating budget is $936 million.

But he said his top priority will be to define the role of the Met Council to local government officials.

Over the next few weeks, Duininck intends to visit with citizens and local elected officials across the metro area aiming to allay their concerns that the Met Council isn’t listening to them.

Actually, I suspect the best way to do this would be to actually listen to citizens and local elected officials.

But this post isn’t about the Met Council, per se. It’s about the workings of the DFL machine. Emphasis added:

Duininck 34, has represented Minneapolis on the 17-member Met Council since 2011, and largely focused transportation issues. He also has a career in DFL politics, serving as executive director for Win Minnesota, which raises money to help elect Democrats.

Let’s be clear: “Win Minnesota” is the fundraising arm of the MNDFL’s noise machine; it collects money from the usual DFL suspects – public employee unions, plutocrats and the like – and distributes it to the likes of the “Alliance for a Better Minnesota”, the DFL’s attack-PR wing.

Oh, yeah:

Duininck also is married to Jaime Tincher, Dayton’s Chief of Staff.

Which is, of course, becoming a bit of a Dayton Administration tradition; one of Dayton’s previous chiefs of staff was married to the boss of the Alliance for a Better Minnesota.

This bit made me laugh:

Dayton said he considered Duininck’s political and family ties before making the appointment.

Oh, I just bet he did.

And to make it even worse?

But the governor said Duininck was endorsed by plenty of people — including current Met Council members, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, several state lawmakers and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, who represents Minnesota’s 5th District…He was the overwhelming recommendation,” Dayton said. “So he got selected by me despite some other issues that I knew would be raised and are going to be raised — because he’s the best person for the job.”

Of course he was.

When the DFL says “jump”, he’ll say “off what?”

Posted

January 20, 2015

Minnesota Politics, Progressive Tyranny

Mitch Berg

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12 responses to “How To Get Ahead In Minnesota Politics”

Joe Doakes

January 20, 2015

That’s okay, Gov. Dayton just appointed a judge who’s been out of law school barely 10 years but served as Chief of Staff to St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and was State Director for Senator Amy, so her credentials are beyond question. Well, her political credentials, anyway.
Mr. D

January 20, 2015

He even has a theme song:

I’m in with the in crowd
I go where the in crowd goes
I’m in with the in crowd
And I know what the in crowd knows
Anytime of the year, don’t you hear?
Dressing fine, making time

We breeze up and down the street
We get respect from the people we meet
They make way day or night
They know the in crowd is out of sight

I’m in with the in crowd
I know every latest dance
When you’re in with the in crowd
It’s so easy to find romance
Any time of the year, don’t you hear?
If it’s square, we ain’t there

We make every minute count
Our share is always the biggest come out
Other guys imitate us
But the original is still the greatest in crowd
Any time of the year, don’t you hear?
Spendin’ cash, talkin’ trash
Chuck

January 20, 2015

I have no problem with appointing someone from the party, but when it a young guy whose only qualifications seems to be fundraising for the party, there appears to be a problem.
bikebubba

January 20, 2015

Here is his LinkedIn page. It appears that he has never held any job outside the Met Council. And bonus, he’s big into community organizing.

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/adam-duininck/5/b8a/155

Obviously he has the real world experience to make informed decisions affecting the cities.

Seriously, the question that needs to be asked is what on earth got him on the board in the first place?
Night Writer

January 20, 2015

It’s all perfectly natural for Dayton, seeing as how he’s never gotten any job based on merit, but purely because of “who” he is.
mnbubba

January 20, 2015

And what exactly has this mook ever done to warrant this?
mnbubba

January 20, 2015

He spent 8 years at the U of MN, but apparently didn’t even graduate. Are Mom and Dad wealthy?
maubi

January 21, 2015

I am so sick of liberals I am moving to a conservative state
bikebubba

January 21, 2015

How’d you figure he didn’t graduate, MNBUBBA/cuz? I would guess BA +MA, but still not much in terms of “work and life experience” that would justify him being on a board with a billion dollar budget.

I would guess he grew up in South Minneapolis with wealthy parents well connected to the DFL.
Bill C

January 21, 2015

Dayton said he considered Duininck’s political and family ties before making the appointment.

He made sure there was sufficient nepotistic ties, such that the string pullers can keep him in line and the agenda moving forward.
In The Mailbox, 01.21.15 : The Other McCain

January 21, 2015

[…] The Lesson” Protein Wisdom: Price Of Electricity Hit Record High In 2014 Shot In The Dark: How To Get Ahead In Minnesota Politics STUMP: Public Pensions Watch – Why Are New Jersey Pensions So Screwed? The Gateway Pundit: […]
Joe Doakes

January 21, 2015

From the Met Council’s website on 1-21-15: “Duininck is currently the Executive Director of Win Minnesota, a non-profit organization that works to advance progressive causes in our state.”

MPR reported on March 28, 2012: “Win Minnesota raises cash for political groups, most notably The Alliance for a Better Minnesota, which helped Gov. Mark Dayton win the 2010 gubernatorial election.”

Can a public official be a DFL bag man at the same time, without violating ethics in government laws? In media-chloroformed Minnesota, apparently so.