Capitol View®

Pawlenty hires DeLaForest for staff position

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has hired a former GOP legislator for a position on his staff.

Chris DeLaForest of Andover, who served from 2003 to 2009 in the Minnesota House of Representatives, will be Pawlenty's Director of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs. DeLaForest replaces Laura Bordelon, who's leaving for a job at Medtronic.

DeLaForest lobbied this year for the medical marijuana bill passed by the House and Senate. The governor is expected to veto that bill later today.