Shake up at the Minnesota DNR

[Bufflehead]

DNR's Merriam leaving post
Submitted by Pat Minelli on December 7, 2006 - 1:29pm.
General News

St. Paul – Gov. Tim Pawlenty today announced that two members of his cabinet will be leaving the administration.

Finance Commissioner Peggy Ingison and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Gene Merriam notified the governor that they will be stepping down from their positions.

Ingison announced she is leaving to become chief financial officer for the Minneapolis Public School District.

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 10 years. He was chief financial officer with ECM Publishers Inc. prior to accepting appointment as DNR commissioner.