ST. PAUL -- It soon may be easier to report what Democrats are not running for Minnesota governor than relay announcements of new candidates.
Former state Sen. Steve Kelley of Hopkins is the latest to form an exploratory committee. At least a dozen others are thinking about running, or actually running, including former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton.
Kelly ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2006.
He plans his first public campaign event Monday in Lakeville, followed on March 30 by one in Rochester, April 28 in Bemidji and May 28 in Duluth.
In a letter to supporters, Kelley said that his 2006 campaign "allowed me to build a solid, statewide network and gain winning experience."
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Court: Keep moving
The Minnesota U.S. Senate election trial broke for an unusually early lunch break Tuesday, but that was not the preference of the three-judge panel hearing the case.
Judge Elizabeth Hayden of Stearns County called for the break when Norm Coleman's campaign did not have another trial witness prepared to testify until the afternoon. That frustrated her.
"We will, with great reluctance, recess until 1 [p.m.]," she said sternly.
Coleman attorney Joe Friedberg said he had moved quicker than expected through examination of a Wright County official in the morning, so was ahead of schedule.
Hayden reminded Coleman's campaign that the court wants witnesses ready to go and witness lists prepared a day in advance to keep the trial moving along.
Don Davis and Scott Wente work for Forum Communications Co., which owns the News Tribune.
