STATE AUDITOR AWADA, HUSBAND TO DIVORCE

Saint Paul Pioneer Press

Author: Dennis Lien, Pioneer Press

Dateline: EAGAN

State Auditor Pat Awada and her husband, Michael, are separated and have begun divorce proceedings, she said in a prepared statement Tuesday.

In her statement and through a spokesman, Pat Awada said the two have been separated since September, she initiated proceedings last month, and the divorce would be finalized sometime after Jan. 1. Her spokesman said she hoped her brief statement would speak for itself.

"This is a difficult and personal matter for our family, and I hope that Minnesotans will give us their prayers and understanding," said Awada, who has been state auditor since January. She previously served as mayor of Eagan.

Michael Awada was charged in May with a gross misdemeanor for striking their teen-age son with a chair. In June, a judge continued the case for a year, saying he would dismiss the charge if Awada remained law abiding and completed counseling.

He admitted swinging a chair at the 15-year-old after the youth returned to their Eagan home late and, during an argument, tried to put his father in an arm lock. The boy, whose arm was bruised and swollen, later climbed out a bedroom window and ran to a neighbor's house.

In court, Michael Awada admitted that his actions were unreasonable and did not enter a plea.

Dennis Lien can be reached at dlien@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5588.