CHARLESTON, W.Va — Governor-elect Jim Justice has filled his cabinet before Monday’s inauguration. Justice replaced all nine cabinet secretaries serving under Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.
The following is a look at those appointments:
Secretary of Administration: John Myers, acting director of WV Lottery since November 2015.
Secretary of Revenue: Dave Hardy, attorney and accountant, 16-year member of the Kanawha County Commission.
Secretary of Commerce: Woody Thrasher, Bridgeport engineer and business owner.
Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection: Austin Caperton, longtime coal consultant, business owner.
Secretary of Health and Human Resources: Bill Crouch, founded health care consulting firm in 1987, retired last June.
Secretary of Transportation/Commissioner of Highways: Tom Smith, longtime federal highway administrator.
Secretary of Military Affairs and Public Safety: Jeff Sandy, former Wood County sheriff, longtime federal investigator.
Secretary of Veterans Assistance: Dennis Davis, U.S. Army veteran and former educator.
Secretary of Education and the Arts: Gayle Manchin, former state Board of Education president, former First Lady, wife of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin.
Other key appointments:
Chief of Staff: Nick Casey, Charleston attorney, former WV Democratic Party chairman.
Deputy Chief of Staff: Jason Pizatella, former Secretary of Administration in Tomblin administration.
West Virginia Lottery Director: Alan Larrick, 38-year Beckley attorney.
State Police superintendent: Jan Cahill, retired trooper, Greenbrier County sheriff.
Director of Communications: Butch Antolini, held similar post in Department of Agriculure, former newspaper publisher.
Press Secretary: Grant Herring, ran communications for Justice campaign.
Tax Commissioner: Dale Steager, experienced tax attorney with state government experience.
Commisioner of Tourism: Chelsea Ruby, communications leader in Tomblin administration Department of Commerce, led state’s sesquicentennial celebration in 2013.
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles: Commissioner Pat Reed will stay in that position, appointed by Tomblin in 2015.
Legislative Director: Bob Ashley, former Republican state lawmaker who spent 29 years in the House of Delegates and one year in the state Senate.
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs: Derek Scarbro, has held various public service positions, Justice campaign manager, transition team leader.
Assistant to the governor, director of scheduling: Pam Rhodes, has worked for the Justice Corporation for the last 17 years.