Updated at 2:15 p.m. CST Feb. 11

DES MOINES — Gov. Tom Vilsack on Friday named Ruth Harkin and Tom Bedell to the Board of Regents and reappointed businesswoman Rose Vasquez to finish out the nine-member panel.

Harkin is the wife of Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Bedell, a Spirit Lake businessman, is the son of former Democratic Rep. Berkeley Bedell.

With the latest announcements, Vilsack has appointed five members to the nine-member panel in the past few weeks. The governor earlier appointed Iowa Cubs majority owner Michael Gartner and Des Moines businesswoman Teresa Wahlert to the panel.

“These business leaders understand the importance of continuing the transformational work under way at the Board of Regents,” Vilsack said in a statement. “These dedicated Iowans will provide steady, thorough and thoughtful leadership.”

The shake-up began when Board President John Forsyth and Regent Dave Neil resigned, citing a potential conflict of interest.

Forsyth is chairman of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which is negotiating a new contract with University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Neil is a former Wellmark board member.

Regent Sue Nieland resigned later. The additional appointments come with the terms of two other Board of Regents members expiring in March.

The appointees are:

—Harkin, 60, a graduate of Catholic University Law School, who was elected Story County Attorney in 1972. She has been senior vice president for United Technologies International and has been married to the senator for 37 years. The couple has two daughters.

—Bedell, 55, is chairman of Pure Fishing, a fishing and tackle company started by his father. A native of Spirit Lake, he graduated from Stanford University.

—Vasquez, 50, works at Principal Financial Group as a diversity consultant. She served as director of the Iowa Department of Human Rights, and was an assistant attorney general. She is a native of Moline, Ill., and has a law degree from the Drake University Law School.

The Iowa Senate must confirm the nominations.

“I’m glad I don’t have to do anything with the confirmation process,” said House Majority Leader Chuck Gipp, R-Decorah. “I’m sure there’ll be questions brought up about residency and other things.”

The Harkins maintain a home in Cumming, but spend the bulk of their time in Washington.

“They are two good, solid people with backgrounds for moving the Regents forward,” said Senate Democratic Leader Michael Gronstal, of Council Bluffs. “They sound like great appointments.”

Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson, of Dows, said it was too early to know if the nominations would face trouble.

“I couldn’t say one way or the other,” Iverson said.