ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Senator Amy Koch has a few relatively simple goals for the 2012 session; to serve her constituents, advance the Republican agenda and generate no more headlines.
Koch, who gave up the position of Senate Majority Leader in December, said Monday she will not seek reelection next November.
"I'm actually looking forward to having a little extra time, a little free time, which has been absent the last two years," Sen. Koch told KARE.
The Buffalo Republican abruptly stepped down from her leadership post December 15th, citing the desire to spend more time with her family. The next day four Republican senators summoned the media to the State Capitol to reveal a more sensational explanation.
They said they had received complaints from Senate staff members about what they called an "inappropriate relationship" between Koch and a male senate staffer. They had confronted Koch earlier in the week, after surprising her with an interventional meeting at the Minneapolis Club.
After more than a month of silence on her fall from the most powerful position in the Senate, Koch is granting media interviews again. She's trying to put the matter behind her before the new session begins Tuesday.
"I'd rather not be talking about any of this," Koch explained. "But I didn't want to become a distraction. Personal issues can become a distraction in politics, and the work we're doing for the state of Minnesota is just too important."
There was speculation early on that Koch would quit the Senate, rather than return and face friends and foes. She said she gained the courage to return to the Capitol after receiving an outpouring of support from friends and colleagues.
"I'm just really touched at how kind and understanding people can be, people from all stripes, all political parties," Koch remarked. "At times you are surprised at just who is reaching out. It's always touching and means a lot."
Some commentators have suggested that Koch's colleagues were too quick to go public with the allegations. And some have raised questions about the original confrontation, which lasted six hours over two days. But Koch would not criticize her fellow Republican senators for the way they handled the issue.
"As a caucus we all decided we're all going to go forward unified and we're going to be focused on the agenda, because that's what really matters to the people of Minnesota," Koch said. "This is a personal issue. I'm not going to look back. I'll keep my opinions to myself on it."
She said that for legal reasons she won't name the staffer, who has since left his job at the Capitol.
It's not the first time a legislator has struck up such a relationship with a staff member, leading some to wonder whether a double standard was applied to Koch because she's a female politician. But Koch won't buy into that line of thinking.
"I don't play gender politics, and so I don't think that that's the case, and I wouldn't make that the case."
Koch does not plan to make any statement about the situation on the Senate floor when the session begins Tuesday. She said the written apology she issued in December to her family, her colleagues and the public will have to suffice.
In that letter, she said, in part: "I have made some mistakes and errors in judgment for which I am deeply sorry by engaging in a relationship with a Senate staffer. While I have not violated any laws or Senate rules, nor misused any state funds or property, I want to express my deep regret and apologies to my constituents, the Republican party, my fellow legislators, friends and most importantly, my family."
Koch said at first she focused on her personal failure, but is determined to get beyond the episode that effectively ended what was a bright future in Minnesota politics. She said she'll still get to do her favorite parts of the job, taking up her constituents's issues and working with the Republican caucus in the Senate.
"Sometimes people get knocked down and they stay down, but I think mostly we tend to get up and move forward," Koch said. "So we'll see. We'll see tomorrow!"
(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rebroacast or rewritten.)
You Might Be Interested In