ST. PAUL -- Sen. Larry Pogemiller of Minneapolis, an outspoken critic of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, will lead Minnesota Senate Democrats next year.
He will replace Sen. Dean Johnson of Willmar, who was defeated Tuesday by Joe Gimse of Willmar.
A House member in an adjoining district to Pogemiller is expected to be elected speaker tonight, giving Minneapolis lawmakers control of both legislative bodies.
It could signal a confrontational relationship brewing between the Senate and Gov. Tim Pawlenty. As chairman of the Senate Tax Committee, Pogemiller frequently clashed with Pawlenty and his administration during the Republican governor's first term.
Pogemiller, a shrewd negotiator, said ``as long as the governor works with us' he doesn't foresee problems.
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``We're all starting with a clean slate,' he said. ``Voters spoke very strongly. we're all going to try to get the work done.'
Pogemiller, who was elected to an eighth term Tuesday, was selected over five other senators, including three from greater Minnesota who argued for geographic balance among the leaders of the two chambers. The other two senators represent suburban districts.
Pogemiller apparently was elected on the fourth ballot of Senate Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members Thursday, but the meeting was closed to the public and press.
Sen. Tarryl Clark of St. Cloud, elected in a special election in 2005, will be assistant majority leader.
Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook will be Tax Committee chairman after his attempt to become majority leader failed. Bakk takes over the committee that Pogemiller has led.
DFL senators also picked Jim Metzen of South St. Paul to continue as president and Sen. Richard Cohen of South St. Paul as Tax Committee chairman.
Pogemiller has been a controversial figure, and Republicans often say his is their least favorite senator and say he is difficult to deal with. However, soon after receiving support from his caucus he said he has worked with GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty and can continue to do so.
"Party identification is not as important as moving the state forward," Pogemiller said. "Let's just work with people."
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Even some rural Democrats have been critical of Pogemiller.
"This is one state and ... (geography) doesn't so much matter as long as you have a strong statewide perspective," Pogemiller said. "Frankly, there was not much discussion of geographic balance in our caucus."
Before the pick was announced, Pawlenty told a news conference that he would seek out common ground with legislators and their leaders in the two months before the session starts.
``We realize that with a Democratic-controlled Legislature there are some things that they simply won't do,' Pawlenty said at a separate news conference. ``And there are some things that perhaps we won't do. We're going to focus on the things we can do together.'
Alex Carey, a spokesman for Pawlenty, said the governor looks forward to working with Pogemiller.
Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher, a Mankato native, was expected to be named House speaker later tonight, although it was not clear whether other House leaders would be picked tonight or later.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
