Charlie Weaver, Governor Pawlenty's chief of staff, is stepping down to become the head of the Minnesota Business Partnership, an association of chief executives from Minnesota's 100 largest companies. Weaver says the opportunity was one he couldn't pass up.
Weaver has been a fixture around the state Capitol since he was elected to the Minnesota House in 1988. He served as Governor Jesse Ventura's public safety commissioner, before becoming Pawlenty's chief of staff. Weaver and Pawlenty have been friends since they met in law school 20 years ago.