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Secretary of State should resign, GOP chair says
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The chairman of the state's Republican Party on Wednesday called for Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie to resign, saying revelations that Ritchie used a taxpayer-funded mailing list to solicit political contributions raised questions about his ability to lead as the state's chief election official.
Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey said that Ritchie has damaged the public trust by "exploiting his office for partisan political purposes."
There was no indication that Ritchie, a DFLer who campaigned on a platform of taking partisan politics out of the office, was considering resigning.
Ritchie has acknowledged it was a mistake for him to give his campaign a list of participants in a state-sponsored "civic engagement" program so they could be sent a newsletter that included a request for a political contribution.
His disclosure came about a month after a pair of Republican operatives asked the state's Office of the Legislative Auditor to investigate whether Ritchie violated any rules. Ritchie had previously said that the list was public information, but that he did not authorize his campaign to use it.
Ritchie was not available for comment Wednesday but has said previously that he believed he was being targeted by the Republican party and conservative blogs angry over his victory in November over incumbent Republican Mary Kiffmeyer.
DFL Party Chairman Brian Melendez defended Ritchie's integrity, saying Ritchie did nothing illegal or wrong and that Republicans are going after Ritchie because he was pursuing an agenda of more inclusiveness in voting.
"We just had an election last November where we kicked out Mary Kiffmeyer because her agenda seemed to be more about voter suppression than about letting people vote," Melendez said. "That's what the Republicans really have a problem with and that's why they are hitting Mark Ritchie so hard."
Earlier in the day, House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, called for a legislative investigation of the case.
Mark Brunswick • 651-222-1636
Mark Brunswick • mbrunswick@startribune.com
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Current state office holders
Governor: Tim Pawlenty
One of only a few prominent Republicans to win a competitive re-election contest in the Democratic sweep of 2006, Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as politically shrewd and naturally likable.
- Lt. Governor: Carol Molnau
- Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie
- Attorney General: Lori Swanson
- State Auditor: Rebecca Otto
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