Governor Tim Pawlenty is expected to publicly reveal his choice for Department of Natural Resources commissioner later today. Gene Merriam is a former DFL state senator from Coon Rapids. His name rose to the top of the list after an intense 2-month search for the right person for the job. He met Pawlenty's requirement that the DNR commissioner be an outdoors enthusiast. Merriam is also a former chair of the Senate Finance and Environment and Natural Resources committee... and cosponsored a bill that created the state's environmental trust fund. Republican Dennis Ozment is chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee. He says he's pleased with the announcement.