Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Elizabeth Bruber, and the reappointment of Roderic Haworth to the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind.

Elizabeth Bruber, of St. Paul, is currently the owner and President of Furniture Associates, Inc., a wholesale furniture sales business in Minneapolis. She is the mother of a seventeen year old visually impaired son. She is an active volunteer with the St. Paul Schools and with the Highland Park Booster Club Parent's Group. She received a Bachelor's of Arts degree in History from the University of Minnesota. She fulfills the Council position held by the representative of someone who is blind, has multiple disabilities, and has difficulty representing him or herself. She is appointed for a three-year term that expires on January 2, 2006. She replaces JoAnne Hacker on the Council.

Roderic Haworth, of Apple Valley, is currently an International Union Representative at the United Auto Workers (UAW) in Bloomington. He had previously served as President of the UAW Local 879 in St. Paul. He is currently a member of the Governor's Workforce Development Council, and has previously served as an Executive Board Member of the Twin Cities Labor Management Council. He received a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Organizational Management and Communications from Concordia College. In 1996, he retired from the Minnesota Army National Guard as a Colonel. He fulfills the Council position held by a member of the Governor's Workforce Development Council. He is reappointed for a three-year term that expires on January 2, 2006. He was first appointed to the Council in 2000. He was recently elected as Chairman of the Council.

The Rehabilitation Council for the Blind gives advice and recommendations to the Minnesota Commissioner of Economic Security and the State Services for the Blind concerning products and services for the blind. The Council consists of fifteen members appointed by the Governor, as well as an ex-officio member from the State Services for the Blind.