Jeff FeckeI voted for Lori Swanson in last year’s primary for attorney general, and later in the general election.  I thought she represented new blood, something the DFL perennially lacks.  More than that, I was impressed by her firm grasp of what was going on in the office of the attorney general.  In her previous job as solicitor general, Swanson had served as Mike Hatch’s top lieutenant.  Certainly, she was well-positioned to hit the ground running.

Most Minnesotans agreed with me, of course, and Swanson became the state’s first female attorney general in January.  Given the recent history of attorneys general in this state, it was certainly reasonable to think that a gubernatorial or senate run might be in Swanson’s future, perhaps as soon as 2010.  Certainly she appeared to have a bright future ahead of her, if nothing else as attorney general for years to come.

But something terrible has happened to Swanson’s once-bright political future: she took office.  Ever since, Swanson has been mired in controversy and rancor that has angered one of the key players in the DFL’s base.  And unless something changes, and quickly, Swanson will be lucky to survive her term. LoriSwanson-tmSwanson’s first major misstep was to keep former Attorney General Mike Hatch around the office.  Hatch had eight years of experience as an attorney general, and it wasn’t an obvious mistake at first.  But having Hatch around didn’t help Swanson solidify her control over her office.  In a Pioneer Press article, an unnamed source said, “Hatch looked like he couldn’t let go, and Lori appeared not ready for prime time.”

Swanson and Hatch didn’t work to calm the waters during the transition between attorneys general.  Instead, they reportedly clashed, making the transition all the worse.  Over thirty employees have left the office since Swanson took over from Hatch in January — including Hatch, who left last week. 

But while the Hatch story is embarassing, and didn’t help matters, it is small potatoes compared to the other scandal currently roilling the office of the attorney general.  It ties to those 30-odd employees who have left since Swanson took office, at least one involuntarily.  And it threatens not just Swanson’s future but her present as well.

In April, Swanson’s office fired Assistant Attorney General KariJo Ferguson, a 10-year veteran of the office.  Swanson and her office have yet to give a reason for the firing, but Ferguson and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) allege that Ferguson was fired for distributing union cards.

Eliot Seide, executive director of AFSCME Council 5, was blunt in a statement on the firing and turmoil in Swanson’s office.  “I am disgusted to be here today,” he said in a statement, in which he alleged that Swanson has created a climate of “political patronage, fear, intimidation and humiliating working conditions.”

  “You won’t hear from attorneys until they have the protection of a union,” Seide continued.  “An assistant attorney general was fired last week for trying to organize a union of her co-workers. That talented attorney received a commendation and a raise on March 25 and competently argued a case for the attorney general before the Court of Appeals. Then she was fired on April 17. What changed? She collected scores of union sign-up cards and convinced her co-workers that they need the protection of a union.”

To say this allegation is serious is an understatement.  If true, Swanson’s office is guilty of violating federal labor law.  Almost more dangerous is the fact that AFSCME is not a minor, two-bit union.  It is a cornerstone of the DFL, one of the strongest unions in the coalition, and a part of the AFL-CIO.  Moreover, other key DFL union supporters, like Education Minnesota, are unlikely to continue to back Swanson against allegations of union-busting.  While the GOP has, as may be expected, been making the most noise about this scandal, these are charges that the DFL will have no choice but to pursue vigorously.  The DFL party can do without Lori Swanson far more easily than it can do without labor support.

When Matt Entenza was forced from the race last fall, most DFLers were pleased.  Entenza clearly had baggage and wasn’t a paragon of ethics.  Swanson, it was hoped, would be a more stable, ethical, and competent attorney general.

That hope appears to be misplaced.  It is long past time for Swanson to answer these charges — and not simply by attacking the union.  Lori Swanson is attorney general, and she owes her constituents — us — an open and honest explanation.  If there is nothing to these allegations, Swanson needs to make that clear.  If she is unwilling — or unable — to do that, then she should join her former mentor and resign.