7/30/2019 4 29 MJC_DaytonAuditLetter
1/2
April 29, 2013
James NoblesOffice of the Legislative Auditor658 Cedar
StreetRoom 140St. Paul, MN 55155
Dear Mr. Nobles,
I write to you today to request an investigation in to what
could be a very troublingmisuse of state property for campaign
purposes by Minnesotas governor.
On April 21, 2013 theMinneapolis Star Tribune reported that Gov.
Mark Daytonspolitical campaign reimbursed the State of Minnesota
$2,802 for campaign-related airtravel in the weeks leading up to
the November 2012 general election1. According to theStar Tribune,
[Dayton] did some state-related business in Bemidji but also
attended arally with DFLers. He also used the plane to get to a DFL
fish fry in International Falls.His $2,802 payment reflects more
than 80 percent of the flights $3,312 cost for the tripto the north
central Minnesota outposts.2 I have attached a copy of this article
for yourreference.
Though the Governors campaign did reimburse the state of
Minnesota for the trip, itappears that the use of aircraft owned
and operated by the state for non-official businessis a violation
of policies outlined by the Minnesota Department of
Transportations(MnDOT) Air Transportation Division the agency which
provides air travel for theGovernor and other state leaders.
As stated on the Fly or Drive section of the MnDOT website,
policies governing theuse of planes by government officials state
that [elected] officials and state employeesare encouraged to
utilize MN/DOT's aircraft whenever it is most cost effective
inconducting official business outside the metropolitan area and
time is essential(emphasis added).3 A copy of these rules is
attached to this letter.
We are requesting that the Office of the Legislative Auditor
review the governors travelitinerary listed above to determine if
Gov. Dayton, or MnDOT under Governor MarkDaytons direction, misused
State of Minnesota resources by using a state plane to travel1
Rachel E. Stassen-Berger, Hotdish Politics: Dayton campaign
repays state for political use of
resources, Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 21, 20132 Id.3 Fly or
Drive, http://dotapp7.dot.state.mn.us/flyordrive/about.vm, accessed
April 25, 2013
7/30/2019 4 29 MJC_DaytonAuditLetter
2/2
Page 2
from Bemidji to International Falls for the sole purpose of
attending a political event. Webelieve that the trip from Bemidji
to International Falls - which the Governors officestates was
political in nature was outside the scope of official business and
therefore
a violation of MnDOTs policies governing the use of state-owned
aircraft.
If the Governor can use the states plane to travel to campaign
events, is that samecourtesy extended to members of the Legislature
or to candidates for elected office inMinnesota? If the Governor or
other incumbents are allowed to reimburse the state forcampaign
travel, what prevents them from doing the same with other
state-ownedresources such as computers and copy machines? It is our
hope that the Office of theLegislative Auditor can shed light on
this matter and provide clarity for the people ofMinnesota.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Tom EricksonExecutive DirectorMinnesota Jobs Coalition
Enclosures (2):
- Hotdish Politics: Dayton campaign repays state for political
use of resources,Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 21, 2013- PDF of
MnDOTs Fly or Drive policies
CC:Senator Roger J. Reinert Chair, Legislative Audit
CommissionRepresentative Michael Beard - Vice-Chair, Legislative
Audit CommissionRepresentative Sondra Erickson Member, Legislative
Audit CommissionRepresentative Andrew Falk Member, Legislative
Audit CommissionRepresentative Rick Hansen Member, Legislative
Audit CommissionRepresentative Mary Liz Holberg Member, Legislative
Audit Commission
Representative Steve Simon Member, Legislative Audit
CommissionSenator Michelle Benson Member, Legislative Audit
CommissionSenator Mary Kiffmeyer Member, Legislative Audit
CommissionSenator Warren Limmer Member, Legislative Audit
CommissionSenator James Metzen Member, Legislative Audit
CommissionSenator Ann H. Rest Member, Legislative Audit
Commission
