CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice says illness is the reason he’s had to cancel several planned appearances this week, including the introduction of his new chief of staff.
“On Sunday of this week I started feeling under the weather. I consulted with my doctor, had some tests run, and I am being treated for a viral infection. I am now feeling better and on the road to recovery,” Justice stated in a news release today.
“I surely haven’t been on vacation and I never get sick. Therefore, I just didn’t want to be bothering the people with me not feeling well. We had some meetings and events scheduled for this week that unfortunately had to be postponed, and I hate that, but I just had to. Those things will be rescheduled.
“Also, regrettably, I will not be able to attend Governor’s Day at the State Fair today. Again, I am feeling better and expect to be back at full throttle next week.”
Justice’s illness has happened at the same time his administration is in transition. On Aug. 3, the governor announced at a rally for President Donald Trump that he would be switching his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.
The next day, a Friday, Justice had a news conference at the Capitol to elaborate on the reasons for his party switch and to sign the paperwork. The only visible member of his administration there was communications director Butch Antolini.
That afternoon, Justice administration spokesman Grant Herring, left work and has not returned. Herring came up through national Democratic Party politics. Also leaving was another communications staffer, Marcus Constantino.
One of the administrations’ top lawyers, Joey Garcia, has applied for an ethics exemption to seek work elsewhere. Garcia was a veteran of former Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s administration.
At midday Monday of this week, Justice called his chief of staff, Nick Casey, and fired him. Casey was a former Democratic Party chairman and ran for Congress as a Democrat.
On Tuesday, the administration announced the hiring of state Senate Finance Chairman Mike Hall as the new chief of staff. The administration put out a news release but then canceled a press conference about the chief of staff position that had been planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The administration also postponed an appearance in the Northern Panhandle for the “Jim’s Promise” tour to promote new highways construction and an upcoming road bond vote.
With Justice under the weather and no chief of staff yet on duty, deputy chief of staff Jason Pizatella remains at the Capitol. Hall is supposed to begin as chief of staff on Monday.
Also canceled. Guys, is everything ok? pic.twitter.com/nAptTYokLA
— Brad McElhinny (@BradMcElhinny) August 15, 2017