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Kennedy’s 2 nominations not enough for Minn. regent seat

Posted on Feb. 18, 2011, at 3:20 p.m.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — University of Maine President Robert Kennedy will not serve on the University of Minnesota board of regents upon leaving the UMaine presidency in June.

In December 2010, Kennedy was announced as a finalist for two of four open positions on the board of regents, the governing body of the University of Minnesota system, similar to the University of Maine system’s board of trustees. One was an at-large seat, meaning any state resident could hold the position, and the other was a seat tied to the 8th Congressional District, where Kennedy’s Baxter home is located.

This dual nomination was unprecedented, according to a January article in The Star Tribune, a Minneapolis-based newspaper.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Feb. 16 that Kennedy will not be recommended to the state legislature next week.

David McMillan, a past chairman of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, will be recommended for the 8th Congressional District seat.

Steve Sviggum, David Larson and Laura Brod will also be recommended to fill upcoming vacancies. Sviggum, a former Republican state house speaker, will likely fill the 2nd Congressional District.

Larson will likely remain in his position holding the 3rd Congressional District seat. He has served on the board of regents since 2005.

Brod, a former state representative, was passed over for the 2nd Congressional District but will be recommended to fill the at-large seat.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 18th, 2011, 3:20 pm. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.