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Title: Sen. Bakk letter to Sen. Fischbach regarding simultaneously holding the offices of state senator and lieutenant governor
Article Date: 1/3/2018
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File: Bakk-Letter-to-Lt-Gov-Fischbach_1.3.18.pdf

Text: January 3, 2018
Lieutenant Governor Michelle Fischbach
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

Dear Michelle,

Congratulations on becoming lieutenant governor of the State of Minnesota. As you know, the
Minnesota Constitution prohibits you from simultaneously holding the offices of state senator and
lieutenant governor. This means that, from the time you became lieutenant governor following
U.S. Senator Tina Smith's resignation from that office, you can no longer hold the office of state
senator.
I'm aware from media reports that you do not agree with this and plan to hold both offices. As
your former colleague, I respectfully ask you to formally acknowledge that you no longer hold
the office of state senator for Senate District 13 . This will remove any uncertainty regarding the
current vacancy in that office and is in the best interest of the Senate, the State of Minnesota, and
your former constituents. In addition, this will also remove any conflict of interest or issues
related to the constitutional separation of powers occurring since you are now a member of the
Executive Branch.
I wish you the best in your new role, and I look forward to working with you and Governor Mark
Dayton.

Very Truly Yours,
Thomas M. Bakk
Senate DFL Leader

State Senate, District 3
CC: Paul Gazelka, Senate Majority Leader
Cal Ludeman, Secretary of the Senate

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