Tony Sertich, a former state House majority leader who has been serving under Gov. Mark Dayton as commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, is leaving that post to take over as head of a Duluth foundation.
In January, Sertich will be taking over as president of the Northland Foundation, which raises money from public and private sources, and makes grants aimed at improving the economic and social climate in seven northeastern Minnesota counties.
"Tony Sertich has been an outstanding advocate for his community, for the Iron Range, and for all of Minnesota," Dayton said in a prepared statement. Sertich did not respond to a telephone message.
Elected to represent an Iron Range-area House district in 2000, Sertich in 2007 rose to the post of House majority leader. At 30, he was the youngest House majority leader in Minnesota history. He held the post for four years, but resigned his legislative seat in early 2011 to take over the IRRRB.
As commissioner of the IRRRB, Sertich oversaw a staff of 55 and a $40 million annual budget. The agency uses proceeds from taconite mining to re-invest in the economy of northeastern Minnesota.
Dayton was re-elected Tuesday to a second term. Sertich is the first of his Cabinet commissioners to announce he won't continue to serve in the second Dayton term.
