To the Editor,

A recent article in the Star Tribune

reported that a group of politicians from northeastern Minnesota

visited Gov. Dayton’s office, telling him the sulfide mining

companies worry about being able to comply with Minnesota’s water

quality standards and that the mining companies needed them weakened.

This was the moment when Mark Dayton

could have chased every sulfide mining corporation out of the state

by uttering one sentence: “I am proud to uphold the water quality

standards protecting Minnesota’s wild rice beds.” But that didn’t

happen.

Instead we who strive to protect

Minnesota’s natural resources are left questioning whether Mark

Dayton lacks the will and the courage to protect them.

If it had been Gov. Jerry Brown

visiting Mark Dayton, the conversation would have gone quite

differently: years ago California poked Minnesota about water

pipelines but was wisely refused.

Leaving decent governance on this

vital issue to the people of Minnesota is not why many of us voted

for Mark Dayton. We do so miss and suffer the loss of our dear Gov.

Rudy Perpich. That is who we needed in the governor’s chair that day

in February 2014.

Constance Bonniwell