Dayton taps conservation lobbyist for Minn. DNR

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton has chosen a former

lobbyist from a land conservation group to head the Minnesota

Department of Natural Resources.

Dayton announced Thursday that Thomas Landwehr will serve as

commissioner of natural resources, overseeing state lands and

waters, wildlife management and outdoor recreation.

Landwehr comes from the Minnesota chapter of the Nature

Conservancy, a national group that aims to preserve land. He is a

former Department of Natural Resources scientist and wildlife

manager and has also worked at Ducks Unlimited.

Landwehr terminated his registration as a lobbyist for the

Nature Conservancy on Tuesday.

He succeeds Mark Holsten, who headed the agency for the past

four years.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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