Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that former State Representative Chris DeLaForest will be joining his staff effective June 22, 2009 as Director of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs. DeLaForest will replace Laura Bordelon, who is leaving the Governor’s Office to become Director of Corporate State Government Affairs for Medtronic.

In addition, Annie Paruccini, currently Director of Board and Commission Appointments, will be moving to the state federal affairs office in Washington, D.C to become director of that office effective July 1, 2009. Federal Affairs Director Jason Rohloff has accepted a position as Senior Policy Officer with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The federal affairs office will be reduced from two staff to one.

DeLaForest, of Andover, served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for three terms, from 2003-2009. He previously worked for a high-tech manufacturing company, an attorney and as an officer in the U.S. Army. He received his Bachelor of Arts from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota and his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Paruccini, of Minneapolis, has been Director of Board and Commission Appointments in the Governor’s Office since 2007. She previously served as Director of Citizen Outreach. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of North Dakota and her Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul.