 Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton today appointed Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith to fill fellow Democrat Al Franken's Senate seat until a special election in November. Smith was widely seen as Dayton's top choice from the moment Franken announced his resignation last week. But her previous decision not to run for governor had raised questions about whether she would want to launch a Senate campaign that would be in the national spotlight. Smith says she will run next year in what's expected to be a hotly contested election for that Senate seat. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.