It seems that Democrat state and local elected officials are more often defined with how they conduct the inner affairs of their offices, instead of how they conduct the actual business of their offices – relax, there’s no Marc Dann type thing in Ms. Swanson’s closet – we’re just saying the bickering seems to trump policy.  From the Star Tribune:

To some, she’s a consumer champion who has targeted alleged scams against the elderly, mortgage fraud, cell-phone billing practices and dangerous Chinese toys.

To others, she’s an awkward politician and micromanager who has driven off much of her staff and alienated part of a key DFL constituency, organized labor.

Swanson, 41, has assumed much of the agenda, some of the baggage and none of the public swagger of her predecessor and former boss, Mike Hatch. While Hatch relished announcing consumer lawsuits with fanfare, Swanson conducts business with little drama. Hatch often called reporters and sometimes called them bad names. Swanson seldom calls at all.

“Mike Hatch was always seeking publicity because he always had his eyes on higher office,” said Carleton College political scientist Steven Schier. Swanson shuns the limelight because “she is personally uncomfortable with it and doesn’t see a career need to do it.”

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