Committee selects first round of Regents candidates

A list of recommended candidates for four seats on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents has been cut down to 17, an advisory committee said Friday.

Final say over who becomes a Regent goes to the Republican-controlled state Legislature, which now has an opportunity to substantially change the makeup of the 12-member Board of Regents that oversees the University of Minnesota system.

The Regent Candidate Advisory Council, made up of elected officials and members of the public, selected the semifinalists from a group of 35 applicants.

Among the candidates are former professional football player and Gopher running back Jim Carter, General Mills CEO Ken Powell and St. Paul Chamber of Commerce Chair John Regal.

Three current board members will also be interviewed to keep their seats. Darrin Rosha and David McMillan are running for District 3 and District 8 seats respectively.

Regent Thomas Devine, who currently represents Congressional District 2, is running for a district 3 seat because of redistricting. He's also thrown his hat in for an at-large seat.

Current at-large regent Laura Brod is not seeking another term.

Former U.S. Congressman Bill Luther, a Democrat and a candidate for the board two years ago, did not make the final list of candidates.

The 17 candidates will be interviewed Jan. 4-6. The council aims to recommend two to four candidates for each seat for the state Legislature's consideration.

But the Legislature can nominate candidates later in the process, as happened last year.

Here's the full list of candidates:

District 2:

• Ian Benson

• Jim Carter

• Sandra Krebsbach

District 3 candidates:

• Thomas Devine (current regent)

• Pam Langseth

• Kent Molde

• Darrin Rosha (current regent)

• Ronald Schutz

• Tammy Lee Stanoch

District 8 candidate:

• David McMillan (current regent)

At-Large candidates:

• Allison Barmann

• Taqee Khaled

• Stacia Nelson

• Ken Powell

• John Regal

• Norrie Thomas