Rep. Mark Buesgens is no stranger to speaking out.
The distinctive voice of Republican state Rep. from Jordan has oft been heard objecting to one thing or another on the Minnesota House floor.
Now he is lending his voice to a different pursuit: He's the new campaign manager for Republican Tom Emmer's gubernatorial campaign. Buesgens official start date was Tuesday.
It's a new role for Buesgens.
"I'm a neophyte, really. (We're) working with advisors and good people who are very interested in seeing the success of the Emmer for Governor campaign. So I'm listening and just taking advice where we can," he said.
The Republican with a libertarian bent has long been a chair of Emmer's campaign. But that was a volunteer gig -- "The mortgage company didn't like that," Buesgens joked. He is now he is being paid.
Emmer's former campaign manager, Dave FitzSimmons moved over to the state GOP's employee about two weeks after he successfully helped Emmer win the contested fight for party endorsement.
FitzSimmons is now responsible for directing field work for state constitutional races, including the race for governor, said GOP spokesman Mark Drake.
