Andreotti said he plans to retire
Associated Press
CORRECTION RAN THURSDAY (7/31/03)
Maj. Gen. Eugene Andreotti, chief of Minnesota's National Guard, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1966. The date of that degree was incorrectly reported on Page 1A July 24.
------------------------------------------------------------ ST. PAUL -- Minnesota's top military official said he plans to retire, and the governor's office later confirmed that complaints had been made against him.
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Maj. Gen. Eugene Andreotti, the chief of the 12,500-member Minnesota National Guard, informed Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Wednesday at a retreat for administration officials that he wanted to retire.
Pawlenty's spokesman, Dan Wolter, wouldn't give details about the complaints against Andreotti.
"They are being investigated by this administration. The Attorney General's Office has advised us that state law does not allow us to say more at this time," Wolter said.
Wolter said the complaints are being handled by the Department of Employee Relations.
A Guard spokesman, Col. Denny Shields, declined comment on the investigation.
"Our agency isn't privy to any sort of investigation that is ongoing," he said.
In the meantime, Pawlenty will begin the process of appointing a new adjutant general, Wolter said. A date for Andreotti's retirement hasn't been set, Shields said.
"The Minnesota National Guard has a national reputation for its readiness and ability to respond to a variety of challenges, and there is a new generation of leaders ready to build on our current strengths," Andreotti said in a statement.
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Andreotti said he wants to explore other career opportunities and spend more time with family.
Andreotti, 60, has overseen deployments to both Iraq wars, humanitarian missions to Latin America, assignments in the Balkans and emergency services during floods and other natural disasters in Minnesota.
A St. Paul native, Andreotti graduated from Alexander Ramsey High School in Roseville and received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Minnesota in 1961.
