Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is turning to a trusted adviser — and a key player in Mayo Clinic's planned expansion — to be his running mate as he seeks a second term.
Dayton has chosen Tina Flint Smith, his chief aide since he took office in 2011, to replace Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon. Prettner Solon didn't want to serve a second term.
Smith is chairwoman of the Destination Medical Center Corp. board. She wasone of four board members appointed by Dayton. In August, the eight-member board unanimously elected her chairwoman.
The DMCC Board is charged with overseeing how $585 million in taxpayer money is spent on public infrastructure to help support Mayo Clinic's planned $6 billion expansion.
It's unclear if being lieutenant governor would affect Smith's position on the DMC board. DMC officials were not available for comment at deadline this morning.
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Both Dayton and Smith call Minneapolis home, so the pick goes against the tradition of having a geographically balanced ticket.
Before serving Dayton, Smith was chief of staff for then-Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
Smith is deeply rooted in Minnesota politics, counting Walter Mondale among her past bosses. She also served as a top official for the regional Planned Parenthood operation.
