Dayton names chief of staff, top aides

Gov.-elect Mark Dayton began assembling his administration Friday with the hiring of several key staff positions.

Dayton's senior leadership team will be led by Tina Smith, his newly hired chief of staff. Smith was a campaign consultant for Dayton and previously worked as chief of staff for Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

Dayton's campaign manager, Dana Anderson, will serve as deputy chief of staff, and his campaign communications director, Katie Tinucci, will serve as press secretary.

The governor-elect also named Michelle Kelm-Helgen as deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs and Andrea Mokros as deputy chief of staff for communications and outreach.

In a news release, Dayton praised the hires as experienced professionals who will form a very strong nucleus of the governor's Office.