Dayton Taps Former Lawmaker For Top Farm Job

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- For the first time in 15 years, Minnesota farmers will see a new face at the helm of the state Department of Agriculture.

Gov.-elect Mark Dayton on Tuesday named former state Sen. David Frederickson as his commissioner of agriculture. He'll take over in January for Gene Hugoson, who has served in the role under three governors since 1995.

Frederickson has previously led the National Farmers Union and has worked on agriculture issues for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The fourth-generation farmer is returning to a state government he was part of as a state senator from 1987-1993. He is 66.

He becomes the second member of Dayton's cabinet. The Democratic governor-elect previously said he would retain current transportation commissioner Tom Sorel.

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