Republican would-be governor Tom Emmer Friday tapped Mike Vekich to lead his efforts as he looks at the possibility of becoming governor.

Emmer lags behind Democrat Mark Dayton by about 9,000 votes, a margin narrow enough to require a recount in Minnesota law but wide enough that history says it will be tough for Emmer to overcome. Earlier this week, Dayton announced six transition team appointees.

"Beginning the transition process is the responsible thing to do," Vekich said in a news release from the Emmer campaign.

In picking Vekich, Emmer followed in a pattern set by current Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Pawlenty appointed Vekich to seven state posts: The Board of Accountancy, the Board of Barber Examiners, Governor's 21st Century Tax Reform Commission, the Interim Director of the State Lottery, the Minnesota Ballpark Authority Commission, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees and the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee.

Hot Dish's question: What is it about Mike Vekich that makes him so appointable?

Click here for a little more on Vekich, including his comparison between organizations and Russian dolls.