By Mike Kaszuba

Taking an opportunity to criticize outgoing Gov. Tim Pawlenty, DFLer Mark Dayton said he was surprised the Pawlenty administration had not tried harder to keep Lockheed Martin from closing its facility in Eagan.

"With all due respect, the governor lives in Eagan," said Dayton, who is awaiting a recount of his apparent gubernatorial victory on Nov. 2. "I was surprised by it -- surprised by the reports that there didn't seem to have been much effort made by the state" to try to keep Lockheed Martin from leaving. Dayton spoke to reporters late Monday after meeting with DFL legislative leaders to discuss next year's priorities. Lockheed Martin announced last week it was closing its Eagan facility, and laying off or transferring roughly 1,000 workers by 2013. "It seems to me this is fundamentally a responsibility of Gov. Pawlenty and his administration," Dayton said. "If I'm governor, I'll pick up the pieces and do what is best I can from that point forward." He described the company's move as a "very, very significant loss of employment." Pawlenty, a Republican, sent a letter last week to Lockheed Martin's chief executive officer asking for a meeting to keep the facility open. The governor also said he would encourage his successor to recommend financial incentives to the Legislature to try to keep the plant in Eagan. Dan McElroy, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, said the Lockheed closing "is not statistically a large loss. But it is a real blow" to employees. He said state officials would assist workers in finding new jobs.