Rural Reporter Retires: A Farewell to Don Davis
It's not every day that a proclamation from the governor arrives at your doorstep, but September 6, 2018 is officially Don Davis Day in Minnesota. The Forum News Service Reporter is retiring after 20 years in the Capitol Press Corps.
"I don't want to be carried out of this place on a stretcher, I'd rather be able to walk out on my own" Davis said in a State Capitol interview with his longtime colleague Mary Lahammer of Twin Cities PBS. They both started covering Minnesota politics when a pro-wrestler became Governor Jesse Ventura. It was a wild ride and politics has been unpredictable and frenetic to cover ever since then.
Current Gov. Mark Dayton wondered without Davis "Who is going to head up the legislative and governor pre-session confab?" but the governor later joked that he won't be here either since he is also retiring. House Speaker Kurt Daudt added "I heard some bad news, Don Davis is retiring, who am I doing to talk to about Greater Minnesota?" They were part of a video tribute we compiled as a going away present for Davis since the rural reporting legend refused a party.
Davis covered greater Minnesota better than any other reporter, doggedly asking at each press conference what it would mean for areas outside the metro. He said he wasn't a cheerleader for rural Minnesota, but took his assignment seriously. An outpouring of political reporters including WCCO's Pat Kessler and TPT's Eric Eskola wondered who was going to constantly asking about the rural/urban divide?
Don says he's hit official retirement age and it's a good a time as any to say goodbye to long nights working out of the Capitol basement. He was also well known for hitting the road and getting out into the rural areas he was responsible for covering. Davis camped at Farmfest near Redwood Falls each year and even gave politicians and reporters advice on footwear (tip: no fancy shoes). He is responsible for every governor candidate's running mate needing to know what E85 is after his office caught more than once candidate not in the know about the renewable fuel. He will be missed.
This story was published September 11, 2018.
