Day resigns Senate seat on Owatonna

OWATONNA — Veteran state senator Dick Day is calling it a day. The senator announced Tuesday morning that he will no longer represent District 26 in the Minnesota Legislature, a seat he won in 1990.

Less than a month ago, Day denied rumors that he might resign from the legislative post he has held for nearly 20 years. At the time, Day dismissed such innuendoes and said that he would definitely run for re-election in 2010.

Day had said such talk stemmed from his racino initiative — a proposal he has pushed for the last decade which would allow Canterbury Park to operate video gambling and slot machines. In an interview on Tuesday, Day said the racino could bring the state $250 million in revenue in each biennium. However, Day said the racino had been repeatedly shot down by legislators who depend heavily on campaign funds from existing casinos.

Now Day will fight for the racino initiative as a lobbyist, rather than a senator. In a few weeks he will be named the president of Racino Now, a non-profit organization involving Canterbury Downs and Running Aces, a harness-racing track in northern Minnesota.

“I’m not officially the president yet, but I will be shortly here. I’ve told them they do not have to pay me anything until after I resign in January,” Day said. “I don’t want any conflict of interest. I don’t want anyone saying, ‘Well you’re doing lobbying while you’re a state senator.’”

When asked if any of the people involved in the initiative had contributed to past campaign funds, Day said no, though he said maybe some of them have contributed $100 here or there.

“I don’t have any interest in stock or any of that stuff,” Day said. “We’re trying to get something done for Minnesotans.”

Day’s resignation is effective Jan. 8. The seat is now up for grabs — in the next few months there will be a special election, said John Aiken, a spokesman for the Minnesota Secretary of State. Aiken added that it is up to Gov. Tim Pawlenty to decide on a date when the election will occur.

The longtime senator’s sudden departure took both local parties by surprise. Steele County Republicans found out about Day’s resignation Tuesday morning, said co-chair Dave Thul. Tuesday afternoon, party officials were already scrambling to prepare for the upcoming special election.

“We are still trying to get organized and get all the procedures in place,” Thul said. “As I understand it, the special election can’t be any sooner than 28 days after Day’s resignation, but the legislature convenes on Feb. 4, so I assume they want someone in place before then. My best guess is we’re looking at a mid-January special election.”

The special election could drastically alter the balance of power in the district, depending on the outcome. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party already won a major victory in 2008, when Kory Kath beat out Republican Tom Kuntz for District 26A in the House of Representatives. It was the first time since 1982 that a DFLer was elected to represent 26A, which was previously considered a Republican stronghold.

The special election could also shift power away from Owatonna and Steele County to other parts of the district, which also includes parts of Waseca and Rice counties.

Though the news came fresh from the press, Thul said by noon the Republican party already had a number of people, hailing from across the district, interested in the senate spot.

“This will be interesting. We’ve got a few candidates who have already contacted us about running,” Thul said, though he declined to name any of those who expressed interest. “We shouldn’t have any trouble keeping the Republican seat. The district that (Day) has represented over the last 19 years is a pretty solid conservative area.”

Day’s resignation came as a shock to local DFL chair Vicki Jensen as well.

“We haven’t discussed anything yet. There has been a considerable amount of people thinking about it,” Jensen said. “We were thinking of getting someone to run against him if he had stayed. Hopefully we’ll be able to move someone forward or someone will step up. That’s big news for us.”

For his part, Day said he would not consider running for any sort of office again, though he enjoyed his time at the capitol.

Clare Kennedy can be reached at 444-2376.

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Member Opinions: By: Geneva_Queen on 12/8/09 Good thing!! That "seat" was holding nothing more than dead weight for the last 2 terms. By: lindslinds on 12/9/09 I agree, Geneva_Queen! By: donghua on 12/9/09 Well, the past twenty-plus years of all Republicans hasn't finished Highway 14. Let's let the Democrats do it. At least when they spend, it isn't on war; and when they tax, it's more on the wealthy who steal from the poor. (Not that I don't know & like Dick Day, it's just time for a change.) By: HLCK on 12/10/09 You people don't have a clue!!! Day at least has morals and ethics...unlike the dems!!! Change??!! Look where that has gotten us so far...nowhere. By: secretsquirrel on 12/10/09 Aaaaaah THERE'S the broad paint brush I was looking for! I think I will paint all republicans this beautiful shade of war and theft. I really like that unethical hue of spending green for the democrats. By: tireman43 on 12/10/09 -donghua- Just to help you out... It's those so called "rich people" that pay your salary. If we had no "rich people" then we wouldn't have jobs. If you are jealous of them, then find a better way of doing what they do and become wealthy yourself. The old saying of "build a better mouse trap" comes to mind. Also, Hwy 14 is moving forward as far as I can see. And change just for the sake of change is foolish and has gotten us in MUCH deeper at the National level already. By: MrSmith on 12/10/09 We got to test the ramp lights theory! Oh wait, that's 60 miles North of us.......... By: civiltongued on 12/10/09 Senator Day has done a "Palin." He is quitting the office for which he was elected without serving out the term his fellow citizens elected him to in good faith. And he is doing it for money just as Palin did. This "special" election will cost the district thousands of dollars it cannot afford to spend. So when you complain that the county roads aren't getting plowed you can know that part of that line item in the budget went for this special election. By: oatmeal on 12/10/09 Dick, thanks for all your years of dedicated service to all of us in Scott County. We will miss you as our senator but at least you will continue your decade long service as our lobbist. By: RealityCheck on 12/10/09 Civiltongued has hit the nail on the head. Conservatives should be outraged that he's quitting and costing the state money it does not have. Where's the outrage? By: pettyfan on 12/11/09 donhhua--The wealthy steal from the poor? How is that?
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