Margaret Anderson Kelliher’s final day as Speaker of the House.

After a quick consideration of the 100s of images I shot the past several days, I think this image, although quiet, is among my favorites.  It was right after the Speaker had given her resignation speech.  Hers was the last of several emotional speeches made by retiring Representatives who, for various reasons are moving on to other parts of their lives.   Immediately after she finished, it was back to the negotiating table on the budget bill with Governor Pawlenty.

I watched Margaret shed some tears during  Marty Seifert’s speech.  When he told a story about his son and the sacrifice to his family by serving as an elected official,   many were brought to tears. There was great  humanity of that moment.   Marty Seifert was the one most people thought she would be battling against in the Governor’s race. Instead Margaret Anderson Kelliher faces an even more conservative candidate if she  survives the DFL primary.  I could not help but think about the difference of this moment between foes, as to what we can expect in the coming race with Republican Tom Emmer.

I’m exhausted as is everyone who was involved in participating in these final days of the Legislature at the Capitol.   After 22 years of documenting politics this is the first time I covered the end of session.   Foolishly I believed them at midnight when they said it was a matter of paperwork and they would be signing and going home before dawn.  After editing my photos to go to Minnpost I considered going back over to the Capitol, but my nap turned into a deep sleep and I woke up just as the session was finally ending past 11 am.

Oh well.  I know Tom Olmscheid and Andrew VonBank were there.   Tom has been the Chief Photographer for the House of Representative for the last 34 years.  Andrew has been working alongside Tom for the last 15 years.  I especially appreciate all the moral support and chats I had with Tom through many of the hurry up and wait times the last two days.  They are both inspiring photographers and it was great connecting with each of them.

I’ll have more on my Gov blog in a day or two.