Dayton sets inaugural
ST. PAUL -- Mark Dayton will take the oath of office at noon Jan. 3 in St. Paul's Landmark Center.
He will be joined by other statewide elected officials in the same place that Tim Pawlenty became governor in 2003.
Dayton picked the theme "Going to Work for Minnesota," which sounds a lot like what he and other Minnesota political candidates said during the recently completed campaign.
The Democrat plans to cap next week with an inaugural dance Jan. 8 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. He said people can wear "blue jeans to black tie." He plans to wear jeans.
During the campaign, when he could dress informally, he liked to say, "Any day in jeans is a good day."
Joining Dayton at the inaugural will be Lt. Gov.-elect Yvonne Prettner Solon, Attorney General Lori Swanson, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and State Auditor Rebecca Otto.
After the noon inaugural, Dayton and Prettner Solon will host a Capitol open house for the public from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The open house will include refreshments. Inaugural ball tickets cost $30 and may be purchased at www.daytoninauguration.org or at the door. Students and low-income Minnesotans are eligible to purchase $15 tickets.
