Lawmakers to grill regent candidates

In a little less than an hour, a joint House-Senate committee meeting will begin interviewing the eight candidates vying for four spots on the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents. Mayo Clinic Dr. Patricia Simmons will be among those getting grilled by lawmakers, hoping to be reappointed to the board. Simmons currently serves as the board's chair and has been a champion for the new University of Minnesota Rochester.

Simmons will be going up against Randy Simonson of Worthington for the First Congressional District board seat. Simonson is CEO of Newport Laboratories.

The joint committee is expected to make its recommendation on Tuesday. A joint session of the state House and Senate will then weigh in on the nominations. Of course, just getting the committee's seal is not a gurantee. Lawmakers can nominate anyone they want for the position — even people who have not gone through the interviewing process.