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Capitol View®
Catharine Richert

Dayton touts Rochester Civic Center expansion

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ROCHESTER - On the lawn of the Mayo Civic Center, Gov. Mark Dayton and local Rochester officials touted a $35 million expansion of the facility, a project that has been eight years in the making.

"The city of Rochester estimates the economic benefit of $370 million over the next 10 years," Dayton said. "This combined with the Destination Medical Center is going to just be transformative for Rochester and the economy here."

The expansion is also expected to create 1,000 jobs - 700 in construction and 300 permanent positions - according to the city.

Funding for the project comes from the cash portion of a massive public works construction package passed by the Legislature earlier this year. Dayton was in Rochester on official business, but the bonding bill is also a legislative achievement Dayton and other DFLers are expected to be talking up on the campaign trail this year.

The legislation includes other big projects, including more than $119 million for the University of Minnesota, more than $159 million for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, and $63 million for Department of Natural Resources projects.

Dayton also defended a fundraiser held in Rochester Thursday night for his re-election campaign, which he was unable to attend due to a delayed flight. According to the Rochester Post-Bulletin, the event was hosted by local business people who touted Dayton's support for the Destination Medical Center, a massive investment project in Rochester partly funded by the state, in a letter to supporters.

Jeff Johnson, Dayton's potential opponent in the general election said the fundraiser amounted to "pay-to-play."

"It is disturbing that Dayton is fundraising directly off of the Destination Medical Center," said Johnson in a press release.

But the event invitation did not include any mention of the project, and Dayton said that the accusation was "ridiculous."

"People who want to be supportive because of what I've been able to do in my administration to benefit the City of Rochester...support my re-election, and people who support what Mr. Johnson wants to do support him - that's the way the process works," Dayton said.

He also defended the role his former chief of staff and current running mate Tina Flint Smith plays as chair of the project's board.

"The board of the DMC selected her because they have such great respect for her," Dayton said, even though he made the official appointment. "Whether or not she becomes lieutenant governor, she will be committed to [the DMC board]."