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Pawlenty cabinet features several new faces
Gov. Tim Pawlenty will have new faces at the head of four key state agencies, with the current leaders of the finance and natural resources departments leaving, the tax commissioner getting demoted and another sliding into a new post. Thursday's cabinet shake up comes about a month before Pawlenty begins his second term. The Republican governor announced that Finance Commissioner Peggy Ingison was stepping down to take a high-level job for the Minneapolis Public Schools. DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam's departure wasn't immediately explained nor was the decision to knock Dan Salomone down a notch to deputy commissioner at the Department of Revenue. Pawlenty named a close aide, Tom Hanson, to replace Ingison and shifted another agency head, Ward Einess, over to take over for Salomone. Einess has been acting head of the Department of Employment and Economic Development. Neither his successor nor Merriam's was named right away. Pawlenty's budget team got the biggest jolt, at a time when he is assembling a two-year budget he'll present to the Legislature in mid-January. Ingison, 54, said the time was right to leave. She will take over as chief financial officer for Minneapolis schools in January. "I feel like I helped through the tough times," she said. "For me it's a chance to be invigorated to think about the chance to do something else." She has been finance commissioner since 2004, and has worked in state government for more than 30 years. She built a reputation as a leader with intricate knowledge of the budget and with no strong political leanings. "We are fortunate to have Peggy joining the district at a time when we are faced with budget shortfalls and continuous restraints," Interim Minneapolis Superintendent Bill Green said in a news release. "Her experience and knowledge of finance, particularly at the state level, will greatly benefit the children of Minneapolis." Merriam, 62, has been Pawlenty's go-to guy on natural resource issues since January 2003. He was formerly a DFL state senator and served for a decade as chairman of the powerful Finance Committee. "I have not yet decided on future plans, but I know it will include more opportunity for hunting, fishing, birding and other outdoor recreation," Merriam said in a posting on the DNR's Web site. Pawlenty praised Ingison and Merriam as "tireless public servants." He offered no appraisal of Salomone, who wasn't immediately available for comment. By Brian Bakst, Associated Press Writer
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