Governor Tom Vilsack has appointed Senator Tom Harkin’s wife, Ruth, to the board that governs Iowa, Iowa State and UNI. Ruth Harkin is the latest person Vilsack has tapped to serve on the Board of Regents after a dispute arose in January, prompting the resignation of two Board members. Vilsack filled those two vacancies a couple of weeks ago. Now, he’s filling the vacancy created by a third resignation and the scheduled end of another board members’ term. Ruth Harkin, who’s 60 years old, is a lawyer who once served as Story County Attorney and recently led two high-profile business ventures in D-C. Vilsack’s other choice to serve on the Board of Regents is Tom Bedell of Spirit Lake, the son of long-time northwest Iowa Congressman Berkley Bedell. Tom Bedell is 55 and since 1979 he’s been chairman of the fishing and tackle company his father founded.
