Friday is the final day on the air for Eric Eskola, WCCO radio's indefatigable political correspondent.
Eskola, who has taken a buyout from the programming-mutating Good Neighbor has been singled out by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who issued a proclamation declaring Friday as "Eric Eskola Day" in Minnesota.
During his weekly early-morning back-and-forth with Eskola, Pawlenty praised him lavishly and wished "my friend" the best.
Eskola, who will continue his gig on Twin Cities public TV's Almanac, has steadfastly downplayed his departure from the radio, telling Star Tribune columnist Jon Tevlin, "nobody cares."
Au contraire, Eric. As his colleague/competitor Tom Scheck , from MPR, put it Friday morning: "His job as a reporter covering state politics and state government has been second to none over the past 26 years. I firmly believe he's one of the reasons Minnesota has the highest voter participation rate in the country."
