CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Department of Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss will return to the private sector once he leaves office next week.
Kiss was appointed to the position by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin on July 1, 2013. In a statement, Kiss said he thinks history will judge Tomblin as the “most fiscally responsible governor” in West Virginia history.
“I count myself as monumentally privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him to the benefit of West Virginia nearly all of my adult life,” Kiss said. ”
As revenue secretary, Kiss was responsible for overseeing 10 agencies that handled such issues as alcoholic beverage control, the West Virginia lottery and taxes.
Prior to becoming revenue secretary, Kiss served in the House of Delegates, including as Speaker from 1997 to 2006. Upon leaving this position, he was a partner at Bowles Rice Attorneys at Law in Charleston, where he practiced areas of tax, estate planning and commercial law.
Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy will replace Kiss following the inauguration of Governor-elect Jim Justice.