Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Sven A. Wehrwein to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

Wehrwein, of Minneapolis, brings a strong financial background to the board. He is a member of the board of directors of two Twin Cities-based public companies, Synovis Life Technologies, and Vital Images. Previously, he was chief financial officer for InStent and Digi International; an investment banker with Dean Witter in New York, Drexel Burnham Lambert in New York and London, and Wessels, Arnold and Henderson in Minneapolis; and a certified public accountant with Coopers and Lybrand in Minneapolis.

Wehrwein earned his masters in finance (MBA) from the Sloan School at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his bachelor's degree from Loyola University in Chicago. He has been an adjunct instructor at the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communications and is a member of the Loft Literary Center board. Wehrwein replaces Wilbur Fluegel on the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board for a four-year term that expires on January 5, 2009.

The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board administers programs for campaign finance disclosure for state candidates, economic interest disclosure for state and local officials, lobbyist registration and disclosure, and public subsidy of state candidates and political party committees. The board consists of six members appointed by the Governor, not more than three of whom may support the same political party.