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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

GOP to remove picture of abused child from ad

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Updated 3:40 p.m.

The Republican Party of Minnesota today agreed to change a television campaign ad critical of Gov. Mark Dayton, after a woman complained about the use of her dead grandson's picture.

Yvonne Dean, of Starbuck, Minnesota, said it was painful to see her family's tragedy used for politics.

The ad showed a photo of Eric Dean, the 4-year-old boy who was killed by his stepmother in 2013. The case triggered a statewide review of child protection services, and renewed questions about a state law preventing investigators from looking at previous incidents of abuse.

In the ad, an announcer appears to lay blame at the governor, saying it was "downright horrifying that he signed a law making it more difficult to investigate maltreatment."

Dean was shocked to see an image of her late grandson in the political ad. She said it was hurtful and it was wrong. Her complaints pushed the GOP to remove her grandson's photo.

"We as a family are trying to heal, and we can't when these things happen," she said. "It dishonors Eric's memory when it's used this way."

Dean, who describes herself as a Republican voter, said she shared her concerns with state GOP chairman Keith Downey and asked him to remove the ad. She said Downey initially declined, telling her that the photo was in the public domain. She said Downey also told her that he believes Dayton's policies were to blame for Eric's death.

Dean said she has never blamed Dayton or the law he signed, which prevents investigators looking into reports of abuse from seeking previous unsubstantiated reports.

"It wasn't passed until 2014 and that couldn't have done anything with Eric's case," Dean said. "Eric passed in 2013. That couldn't have affected him."

Dean said Downey later called her back and said he would change the ad by removing Eric's picture and story. However, the Republican Party decided to change the ad only after she complained publicly.

"I am satisfied that he agreed to work with me and agreed to do that," she said. "I'm not sure they were fully aware of the impact that it would have. I think they should have looked before they leaped."

Through a spokeswoman, Downey declined an interview request. In a written statement, he said he apologized to Dean for not contacting her before the ad was produced. Downey also said a revised version of the ad will begin airing soon. But he did not back away from his criticism of Dayton.

The law referred to in the ad was passed with Democratic and Republican votes last session.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson also issued a statement, saying he supports the party's decision to revise the ad.

"This little boy's picture should never have been used in an ad," Johnson said.