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A trio of Minnesota political veterans are teaming up to form a new St. Paul consulting firm specializing in government and public relations.

Former Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Zellers, a six-term state representative and gubernatorial candidate; Brian McClung, a former Tim Pawlenty spokesman and Chief of Staff; and Chas Anderson, former Deputy Education Commisioner and House Republican Caucus Chief of Staff, are now partners in MZA+Co, a strategic consulting firm that will serve non-profit, political and trade association clients in state government and public relations both in and out of Minnesota.

"The three of us have decades of experience working on complex issues at the highest levels of state government," Zellers said in a statement. "We know what it takes to help shape public opinion and inspire action."

The three are equal partners in the firm, while McClung will continue to serve as president of McClung Communications & Public Relations, a firm he founded in 2010.