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Anderson: Minnesota Senate rejection 'unfair, wrong'

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Jan 30, 2012 at 12:34 pm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Former state senator Ellen Anderson says the state Senate's vote to reject her as Gov. Mark Dayton's Public Utilities Commission chief was "unfair, mean-spirited and wrong.''

The Senate voted 37-29 Monday to reject Anderson. The vote was on party lines with all Senate Republicans against Anderson, who says the vote from former colleagues stung.

Anderson tells The Associated Press she doesn't believe she was judged on her performance in a job she held for more than six months. Anderson would not speculate on Republican motives, but disagreed with a comment from Republican Sen. Julie Rosen that she has "demonized traditional energy sources.''

Dayton said after the vote he would hire Anderson as a senior advisor in his administration. Anderson says she wants to discuss the job with Dayton before accepting.