Want a job with Mark Dayton? Call John Ongaro

If you're looking for a job in Minnesota government under a Gov. Mark Dayton administration -- maybe commissioner of Transportation, Natural Resources or Commerce -- John Ongaro would be a good guy to know.

Ongaro's day job is St. Louis County's government relations director, the county's lobbyist in St. Paul. But he's taken a leave of absence to work as one of eight senior advisers on DFLer Dayton's transition team.

Ongaro and the other Dayton transition team advisers are recruiting and screening candidates for top state jobs, both agency heads and Dayton's administrative staff, assuming Dayton eventually will be declared governor.

"We're trying to make sure we have the best candidates possible for the job, that people who are interested know how to get their name in and to maybe go out and encourage some people to apply," said Ongaro, of Duluth. "It's been 20 years since there was a Democrat in this office so they want to get it right."

The transition team is seeking input from user groups, asking hunting and fishing groups, for instance, who they want to see as head of the Department of Natural Resources.

Anyone looking for a Dayton administration job, or nominating someone for a post, can go to www.daytontransition.org for more information.

Dayton holds a nearly 9,000-vote lead over Republican Tom Emmer as a statewide recount comes to a close, and the State Canvassing Board could declare Dayton the winner by Dec. 14. Republicans, however, have threatened possible legal action that could delay placement of a new governor.

Ongaro said he accepted the post in November because the adviser team needed more representation from outside the Twin Cities. He expects most of the work to be finished by Christmas and to return to his county job in January.

"Other than myself, only (former Senate Majority Leader) Roger Moe is really from greater Minnesota," Ongaro said. "I thought we needed more balance in there. And I thought I could bring a perspective from the local government half of the state-local government relationship."

St. Louis County commissioners signed off on Ongaro's leave without taking formal action.

"We didn't see any problem with it," said Commissioner Steve O'Neil of Duluth. "It's a good thing for him to get good people into state government."

Ongaro said he took the post when it became clear Dayton's vote lead was insurmountable over Emmer.

Dayton "can't sit around and wait for the last legal or Canvassing Board decision to come down. He's going to need to hit the ground running, whether the declaration is Dec. 14 or Jan. 14," Ongaro said. "The goal is to have at least the top dozen commissioners named when the new administration takes over Jan. 3."

He said Dayton will ask all agency heads appointed by outgoing Gov. Tim Pawlenty to tender a letter of resignation -- common protocol -- but that some might continue to serve in a Dayton administration "at least for the time being."

State Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon, DFL-Duluth, Dayton's lieutenant governor running mate, is also playing a key role in the transition, Ongaro said.