House panel recommends confirmation of four nominees to Minnesota campaign finance board

The Minnesota House Elections, Finance and Government Operations Committee recommended four gubernatorial appointees to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board for confirmation after brief testimony and voice votes.

Jeff Sigurdsson, executive director of the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, told the committee the board oversees investigations and advisory opinions, directs staff on disclosure communications, and enforces campaign finance laws. He said board members commonly serve four-year terms, no more than three members may “represent any particular party,” certain seats are reserved for former legislators, and appointees cannot be lobbyists or party officers while serving. Sigurdsson also noted members receive a $55 per diem and that confirmations require further floor action: appointees will appear before the full House and a three-fifths vote is required for confirmation.

The committee took up the four nominees in the order announced by the chair. Steven Swanson, who appeared remotely, recounted a legal career that included work with Minnesota Legal Aid, service as a district court judge and international judicial work, and prior service on the campaign finance board since 2017. After brief remarks and no questions, the committee chair moved to recommend Swanson for confirmation; the motion passed on a voice vote with no audible opposition.

King Banyan, director of the Center for Policy Research and Community Engagement at St. Cloud State University and a former state representative, described his academic work on applied policy research and earlier legislative experience, saying those perspectives would inform his service on the board. Representative McDonald interjected a jocular remark—“I vote no”—then praised Banyan; Banyan responded and the panel recommended him for confirmation by voice vote.

David Asp, an attorney and incumbent board member who was first appointed in 2022, summarized his work as a former board chair, including rulemaking and enforcement aimed at balancing compliance and fairness for volunteer campaign workers. The committee recommended Asp for confirmation by voice vote.

Charles Spivacek (pronounced by the nominee as “Spivac”), a longtime litigator who said he was contacted by the governor’s office and identified with the Republican Party, described his legal practice and involvement in high-profile coverage disputes; the committee recommended his appointment by voice vote.

Throughout the hearing members asked few substantive questions. Representative Colter raised a procedural point about leadership rotation, noting that the chair and vice chair both identify with the same party and asked whether that was usual; Sigurdsson said chairs generally rotate but that the expected vice-chair candidate was not interested this year, which led to the current leadership arrangement. Representative McDonald publicly thanked the board members and staff for their service and urged viewers to note the board’s role in keeping candidates and officials within the law.

All four appointees are expected to move next to the House floor for the formal confirmation process and, ultimately, the full confirmation required by statute. The committee adjourned after the votes.