By Mike Kaszuba

Eighteen days after taking office in Minnesota, Gov. Mark Dayton has been named to the executive committee of the National Governors Association. Dayton was named Friday to the nine-member panel, and will be its only member from the upper Midwest. The panel will be chaired by Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington, with Gov. Dave Heineman of Nebraska serving as the vice chair. Dayton was also named to the NGA's health and human services committee, which will be chaired by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.