Fact Check: MDE Wrongfully Attacks Rep. Dittrich

Michael Brodkorb has once again left truth and reason far behind in his endless pursuit of self-aggrandizement.  Who’s the victim this time?  Representative Denise Dittrich (HD 47A) from Champlain.

Brodkorb claims that Dittrich failed to disclose a conflict of interest in voting for the Northstar Commuter Rail funding bill because her husband owns commercial property near one of the proposed stadiums.  Let me explain the ways that this is a huge stretch:

1. This project has such a marked significance for any properties that lie near the proposed rail route that by Brodkorb’s logic, any Rep. who lived close to, owned property near, or had a vested interest in any developments close to the tracks would have a potential conflict.  What’s Brodkorb’s benchmark? 3 blocks away… 2 miles…. 10 miles?  For how many Reps would this create a conflict of interest; all of the metro?
2. In her statement of economic interest filed with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Rep. Dittrich goes above and beyond state law by listing the property her husband owns in partnership.
3. The standard for a conflict of interest on Northstar was established in 2002 when Rep. Jim Abeler was accused of having a conflict of interest for owning property near the Northstar rail and then voting for it.  Speaker Sviggum was quoted at the time as saying “absolutely not” when asked if Abeler had a conflict.  Abler was judged not to have a conflict of interest.  After looking at the facts of the case, it’s clear that Dittrich’s situation is even less controversial then was Abler’s.
4. Moreover, Rep. Dittrich showcased her ethical purity when she filed a conflict of interest in the vote for the new Twins Stadium.  This vote was much closer than the Northstar vote was and much more contentious.  Why would Dittrich file a conflict on this vote only to knowingly disregard the law on a bill that was sure to pass?

Representative Dittrich has done nothing ethically suspect or anything even remotely dishonest.  The fact that Michael Brodkorb would stretch the story to the point of breaking just to try to snag another headline is pretty disgusting.  Let’s hope that in the future Bordkorb holds himself to the same high standard of ethics that Rep. Dittrich holds herself to.