Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that two members of his cabinet will be leaving the Pawlenty Administration and thanked them for their dedicated service. The Governor also named one of the commissioners’ replacements and announced the filling of two important posts in the Governor’s office. Governor Pawlenty also named a new commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Revenue, as well as the new state meth coordinator.

Finance Commissioner Peggy Ingison and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Gene Merriam notified the Governor that they will be stepping down from their positions. Commissioner Ingison announced she is leaving to become Chief Financial Officer for the Minneapolis Public School district.

“Commissioner Ingison and Commissioner Merriam have been tireless public servants whose leadership has greatly benefited our state,” Governor Pawlenty said. “We thank them for their great work and wish them well as they move forward.”

Ingison has served as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Finance since February 2004. Prior to her appointment as commissioner she served as state budget director for the Department of Finance. Ingison began her state government career in 1976, as an auditor for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Merriam was appointed commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in January 2003. He served 22 years in the State Senate (1974-1996) where he was a member of the Senate Natural Resources Committee during his entire Senate career, including six years as Chairman. He served on the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources for 16 years (1980-1996), and was Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee for ten years. He was Chief Financial Officer with ECM Publishers, Inc. prior to accepting appointment as DNR Commissioner.

“Minnesota’s natural resources are state treasures. Preserving and improving them require a long-term strategy and Gene Merriam has been instrumental in leading and advancing our natural resource strategy. We are grateful for his service,” Governor Pawlenty said.

Governor Pawlenty has chosen Ward Einess, who has been serving as acting commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), to become commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Revenue (MDR). Current MDR commissioner Dan Salomone will remain at MDR to serve as deputy commissioner. Prior to accepting his current acting commissioner role, Einess served as deputy commissioner of DEED and as a senior policy advisor to Governor Pawlenty. Before joining the Pawlenty administration, Einess was director of fiscal policy for the Minnesota Business Partnership and a researcher and legislative analyst for the Minnesota legislature.

After serving as Director of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs in Governor Pawlenty’s office for the past four years and Deputy Chief of Staff for the last two, Tom Hanson has been chosen by Governor Pawlenty to replace Peggy Ingison as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Finance. Hanson has over 17 years of experience in state and federal government. He received his B.A. from Concordia College in Moorhead and his Jurist Doctorate from George Mason University.

After serving since 2004 as senior policy advisory in the Governor’s office, Laura Bordelon has been chosen as the new Director of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs for Governor Pawlenty. Prior to working in the Governor’s office, Bordelon worked as a policy advisor for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Her years of service prior to that include public policy and public finance positions for the State of California and City of San Francisco.

Chuck Noerenberg, currently a senior policy advisory in the Governor’s office, has been appointed to fill Governor Pawlenty’s newly created position of state meth coordinator. Noerenberg will be responsible for coordinating the Pawlenty Administration’s efforts to address the meth epidemic in Minnesota, including overseeing the state’s meth offender registry, developing greater public awareness through meth education programs, and strengthening the state’s enforcement mechanisms.

Bob Schroeder will be returning to his previous role as Deputy Chief of Staff in Governor Pawlenty’s office.