Sviggum tapped to lead state budget agency

Former House Speaker Steve Sviggum was appointed to a new role today in Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s Cabinet.

Sviggum, a former Republican House speaker from Kenyon, was named commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget. Sviggum currently serves as commissioner of the state’s Department of Labor and Industry.

“I try to be a good team player,” Sviggum told the R-E Tuesday afternoon. “It seemed like the right thing to do for the team.”

He begins the new post Dec. 2 – the day the state’s budget forecast is scheduled to be released. Sviggum will likely be part of delivering that address.

Cindy Valentine, currently a deputy commissioner under Sviggum, will become temporary commissioner at the Department of Labor and Industry.

Read more about the announcement in Wednesday's print edition.

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