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Pawlenty names chief of staff, corrections commissioner
by Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio
January 2, 2003

Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty named Joan Fabian, right, as corrections commissioner, a position previously held by Sheryl Ramstad. Fabian is currently director of the Ramsey County Community Corrections Department. (MPR Photo/Laura McCallum)

St. Paul, Minn. — Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty today named his top aide and his 11th cabinet appointment.

	Charlie Weaver

Pawlenty appointed the head of his transition team, Charlie Weaver, to be his chief of staff. Weaver was public safety commissioner under Gov. Jesse Ventura, and is a former legislator and prosecutor.

Pawlenty also named Joan Fabian to be his corrections commissioner. Fabian directs the Ramsey County Community Corrections Department. Pawlenty says with the state facing a projected $4.5 billion budget deficit, corrections will be on the table for cuts, like every other area.

He says he will look at whether some non-violent drug and property offenders could serve their time in facilities other than prisons.

"Is there a way for non-violent offenders to use some of the current state facilities that we otherwise might be shutting down to have a more economical way, less intense way, and a cheaper way to incarcerate these individuals?" he said.

Pawlenty didn't rule out closing prisons to balance the state budget. He also appointed outgoing corrections commissioner Sheryl Ramstad to the Minnesota Tax Court, his first judicial appointment.

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