Democrat Sabo is likely to step down
"MN Congressional Reps."03/18/2006
He’s represented west metro area in Congress since 1979
BY BILL SALISBURY
Pioneer Press
U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo, a Minneapolis Democrat who has been a powerful player in state and national politics for nearly half a century, is expected to announce today that he will not seek re-election this year.
His announcement is likely to set off a crowded scramble for a once-in-a-generation shot at a seat from one of the most liberal Democratic congressional districts in the nation. “There probably will be 150 candidates at a minimum,” said one Minneapolis Democratic-Farmer-Labor insider.
Sabo, 68, has scheduled a noon news conference at his Minneapolis office to announce his plans. His chief of staff, Mike Erlandson, would neither confirm nor deny that Sabo is retiring.
But two other sources close to Sabo, who asked not to be named, told the Pioneer Press he has decided not to seek a 15th term, and the Associated Press cited two unnamed congressional staffers as confirming his retirement.
Sabo is a taciturn Norwegian who kept a low public profile but was perhaps Minnesota’s most influential policy-maker behind the scenes in Washington. He has represented the Minneapolis area in the House since 1979, making him second in seniority to U.S. Rep. James Oberstar in the Minnesota congressional delegation. He is one of just three men who have represented Minneapolis in Congress since World War II.
“It feels like a chapter in Minnesota political history is closing,” said Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study for Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. “I think of Sabo as the last notable link to the Humphrey-Mondale-Fraser era of the DFL Party.”
His retirement would be a big loss not only for Minneapolis but for all of Minnesota. As a senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, he has steered hundreds of millions of federal dollars to the state.
A strong advocate for transportation, he lined up more than $300 million in federal aid to build the Hiawatha light-rail transit line.
Born in North Dakota of Norwegian immigrant parents, he has spent his entire adult life in politics. He was elected to the Minnesota House in 1960 at age 22, elected speaker of that chamber at 34 and won a seat in Congress at 40. He rose through the ranks to become chairman of the powerful Budget Committee in 1993, a post he held for just two years before Republicans took control of Congress.
Since then, he has focused on the Appropriations Committee, where he is the lead Democrat on the homeland security subcommittee.
“We’re losing a very powerful and influential voice in Washington,” Jacobs said. “It’s going to hurt.”
Democrats are almost certain to keep his 5th District seat. He was re-elected in 2004 with 70 percent of the vote, while Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry got 71 percent in the district.
“No matter what Congressman Sabo announces, we’re 100-perecent confident that Minnesotans will send a Democrat to represent them in Congress this November,” said Jen Psaki, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Minneapolis DFLers were floating numerous names as possible successors.
Erlandson, Sabo’s longtime top aide and former state DFL chairman, would be “the 800-pound gorilla in the race,” one party leader said.
Several others mentioned Julie Sabo, the congressman’s daughter and a former state senator who was DFL gubernatorial candidate Roger Moe’s running mate in 2002.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, a rising DFL star, would “absolutely not” seek the seat, said mayoral spokesman Jeremy Hanson. “He is absolutely finishing his term as mayor.”
Former Secretary of State Joan Growe, who ruled herself out of the race, said national women’s groups would consider this a great opportunity to elect another woman to Congress. “There are some very qualified, talented women in the 5th District,” she said.
In addition to Julie Sabo, she and other DFL activists listed as possible candidates state Sens. Linda Berglin and Linda Higgins, state Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman, Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman and business executive Rebecca Yanisch. Some said former Mayor Sharon Sayles-Belton and former City Council President Jackie Cherryhomes might consider political comebacks.
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, a University of St. Thomas professor, had already announced his candidacy for Sabo’s seat.
Other possible male DFL candidates include state Sens. Scott Dibble, Larry Pogemiller and Satveer Chaudhary, Minneapolis City Council Members Scott Benson and Gary Schiff, Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin and former commissioner John Derus. Another county commissioner, Randy Johnson, is a possible Republican candidate.
Bill Gardner contributed to this report. Bill Salisbury can be reached at bsalisbury@pioneer press.com or 651-228-5538.
The congressional seat in Minneapolis does not change hands often. Here are the representatives since World War II:
• Martin Sabo, 1979- present
• Don Fraser, 1962-1978
• Walter H. Judd, 1943-1962