Molnau replacement demonstrates pattern for Pawlenty

Divisiveness and controversy have been the result of more than a few of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s commissioner nominations over the last four years. As Rachel Stassen-Berger at the Pioneer Press’ politics blog, Political Animal, points out, not only has Pawlenty nominated some controversial characters, but once the dust settles after such a nominee, his next pick will be as safe and middle-of-the-road as he can find.

To replace Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, whom the Senate ousted last month, Pawlenty picked a non-political figure to run the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration staffer Tom Sorel. Stassen-Berger takes a look at the controversial losses and stable gains in the Pawlenty administration.

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2008 — Molnau, the tough Lt. Governor, was Pawlenty’s first pick as transportation chief. After the Senate boots her from the job, Pawlenty went with a technocrat most folks at the Capitol have never heard of.

2007 — Dianne Mandernach resigned in August 2007 as health department chief after controversy over her department’s delayed release of data about a rare cancer among Iron Range miners. In September, Pawlenty appointed Sanne Magnan to replace her, an apolitical doctor who is well-respected for her health-care credentials.

2004 — The Senate ousted Cheri Pierson Yecke after she served 16 months as the education commissioner on a party line vote. DFLers said she was too conservative and divisive. He replaced her with former Rep. Alice Seagren, who, granted, is a Republican but was able to get along well with people on both sides of the aisle and won unanimous approval from the Senate education committee in 2005.

2004 — Public safety commissioner Rich Stanek resigns after renewed controversy over his past use of racial epithets and other issues. Two months later, Pawlenty appoints Michael Campion, a veteran law enforcement agent known as a steady and thoughtful leader, to head the department.

In all these instances, Pawlenty eventually selected someone that both sides of the aisle found acceptable, but only after media and partisan criticism quashed his first choice. As David Brauer at MinnPost asks, it “begs the question: why didn’t Pawenty do it right the first time?”