Regent Sviggum takes job as spokesman for Senate Republican Caucus

University of Minnesota Regent Steve Sviggum  took a job as the spokesman and executive assistant for the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus, the party announced Monday night.

Sviggum will continue his six-year term as regent, according to a press release.

In March, Sviggum’s dual roles as a newly-selected regent and his fellowship at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs were ruled a conflict of interest. Sviggum selected to remain a regent, an unpaid position, rather than his $80,000 per year job at the Humphrey School.

The investigation into the conflict found no wrongdoing on Sviggum’s part.

Sviggum had spent about 30 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, including serving as Speaker of the House from 1999 to 2007.

The caucus’s previous spokesman, Michael Brodkorb , was fired late last year amid allegations that his boss, former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, had an inappropriate relationship with an unnamed staffer.

Sviggum will assume his duties Tuesday and the legislative session begins Jan. 24.