I knew them when

One of the pleasures of being a journalist is following the fates and fortunes of the elected officials you get to know.
My former 12 News colleague Todd Baer had covered the Texas statehouse, and would delight us with his insights about W.
Since we were in Brooklyn Park many of my co-workers knew Jesse Ventura back when he was Mayor, and had some tales to tell.

I met Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek when he was a fairly laid back guy from Maple Grove running for state representative. He would go on to a controversial career as the Minnesota Director of Public Safety, eventually resigning. Sometimes it's hard to match the person you met with the public figure they become.

I knew Amy Klobuchar a bit better. When she was Hennepin County District Attorney she was involved in many stories I covered. At times she felt like a peer, we owned some of the same suits and would sometimes have a moment for small talk. Now she is a United States Senator.

And here on the big stage of New York State, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy appears to be poised for a run for Governor.

When I worked at WLNY he was a frequent interview subject. Whenever there was a pause in the action I would ask, are you going to run? It kind of became a little joke, I would ask every time I saw him, and he never had an answer.

Covering politics can be both exciting and dull, depending on the day and the story. But it gets a little more interesting when you see someone you know step onto a larger stage.

Darcy's determination

It's a very sad day for anyone who has been part of the Minnesota journalism community. Darcy Pohland died in her sleep last night at the age of 48. Darcy is well known as a sharp journalist, passionate sports fan, and the fact that she did all that in wheelchair.

I certainly was not a close friend, but for my last few months in the Twin Cities we would start many of our days together. Often we would be the first two reporters at the Hennepin County Court pouring over criminal complaints in the "media basket" looking for stories.

Darcy really befriended me, mostly because of parking. At the time reporters were allowed to park, I believe on the sidewalk, near the court, and since we were the first two each day, she needed me to not box her in, so she could get her wheelchair in and out of her van.

I'm not much of a morning person, so I remember noticing all the extra time and effort she had to take just to do our daily beat check. I also remember covering a construction collapse in burgeoning Maple Grove and admiring how even in a bumpy, lumpy, muddy field somehow she managed to maneuver just fine.

Just my little memory of a woman who is now one of the great legends of Minnesota broadcasting.