CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey announced the first 15 members of his administration Thursday and said one of the group’s main thrusts would be rightsizing state government.
“Everyone here reflects an important goal of the administration,” Morrisey said. “We want to make sure that the people coming on board are going to care about repurposing government and rightsizing government and I think every person in the cabinet and the governor’s office care deeply about this.”
Morrisey has chosen state Senator Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha, as revenue secretary and outgoing House of Delegates Majority Leader Eric Householder, R-Berkeley, as secretary of administration. Both are former finance committee chairs in the House of Delegates.
Morrisey is also bringing in former state budget chief in several gubernatorial administrations, Mike McKown, back to run his budget office.
“We all want to make sure that we have the most family friendly state. We want to make sure that opportunity abounds for the youth of our state, that educational attainment soars, that we are the freest, most economically viable state.”
– @MorriseyWV— West Virginia Prosperity Group (@wvprosperity) January 2, 2025
Morrisey used strong language during his 50-minute news conference at the state capitol Thursday signaling a state government shake-up. He said the state has “fiscal challenges.”
“We are not going to have the same number of departments that we have now and we’re also going to be looking closely at the massive number of commissions we have in place, we’re going to make changes,” Morrisey promised. “We need to have more accountability, more freedom and we need to save money that can then be invested back into the people.”
New state Senate Finance Committee Chairman Jason Barrett, R-Berkeley, sent a similar signal earlier this week when he was appointed to the post by incoming Senate President Randy Smith.
“I’m excited to be a part of the leadership team that Senate President Smith is building, and I think West Virginians are really going to see the kind of meaningful financial stewardship that this state expects,” Barrett said. “We look forward to working with Governor-elect Morrisey to make sure that our state’s budget is fiscally responsible and financially sound.”
The Morrisey transition team is already going over the budget. Revenue collections through the first six months show collections running nearly even with estimates. ,
Morrisey declined Thursday to be more specific about cuts he’s thinking about. He promised more information the week after his Jan. 13 inauguration.
“I’m not willing to put a dollar figure on it right now,” Morrisey said. “For example, we have to have money to pay for the tax cuts. You have to pay for them and that really hasn’t been done yet.”
The state’s personal income tax went down another six percent on Wednesday.
Morrisey predicted prosperity is in the state’s financial future but there’s likely going to be some pain first.
“We’re going to have a great time in West Virginia growing our economy but we have to level with people where we are right now,” Morrisey said.
Morrisey added he wants to invest in the latest technology for state government to help save money.
The first 15
Three of Morrisey’s first 15 appointments are coming to West Virginia from jobs outside the state.
Chief of Staff Tom McCaffery worked in the Trump administration, Deputy Chief of Staff Todd Johnston was vice president and managing director of ConservAmerica and new Secretary of Human Services Alex Mayer oversaw child support, child protection, and economic assistance for the state of South Dakota.
Morrisey said he’s looking for the best people available.
“I’m going to take talent from wherever it comes. I want to send a message across the country, if you’re the best at your position you have a place in West Virginia,” Morrisey said. “We need to be the best. We need to move up from 49 and 50 and the way we put the best championship team on the field, we look across the country.”
The transition team is working with a head-hunting group to come up with more candidates, Morrisey said.
He promised more appointments before his inauguration with the remaining announcements after he is sworn-in to office.
Some other notable appointments announced Thursday include the retention of Harold Ward as state DEP secretary, the appointment of former delegate Dianna Graves to head-up senior services and the appointment of Crescent Gallagher as press secretary.
Bios of those appointed
Tom McCaffery – Chief of Staff
Tom was Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs/Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Defense under President Donald J. Trump, and most recently was principal at Health Management Associates. Tom has run multi-billion dollar business units and has more than 30 years of executive experience in state and federal government, corporate, and policy space. Tom graduated with a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and has a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. He is also a Rotary International Scholar at Trinity College Dublin.
Douglas P. Buffington II – Senior Advisor
Doug served as Chief Deputy Attorney General under Attorney General Morrisey, where he assisted with the oversight and management of attorneys and the office. Prior to the Attorney General’s office, he was the Acting and Assistant Director of the West Virginia Lottery, and was Chief of Staff for the WV Department of Revenue. Doug graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law and Baylor University. Doug lives in Raleigh county with his wife.
A. Todd Johnston – Deputy Chief of Staff and Chair of Energy, Infrastructure, and Competitiveness Council
Todd was most recently vice president and managing director of ConservAmerica, and has served in government, nonprofit, congressional, and corporate roles leading on energy and regulatory issues. He also served as Staff Director for the House of Representatives Subcommittees on Energy & Environment. Todd graduated from Hampden-Sydney College with a degree in political science.
Sean M. Whelan – General Counsel
Sean most recently served as a Deputy Attorney General and the Division Director for the WV Attorney General’s Tax & Revenue Division. Sean has represented State officials and agencies at various levels of the state and federal court system on tax, insurance, and education matters. Sean graduated from the University of Kentucky’s J. David Rosenberg College of Law and Franciscan University. Sean was raised in Nicholas County and today lives in Charleston with his wife and three children.
Curtis R. A. Capehart – Director of Policy
Curtis most recently served as Deputy Attorney General in the Attorney General’s Main Office Division, responsible for complex litigation, including the state’s defense of the Save Women’s Sports Act and Unborn Child Protection Act. He graduated from the University of Michigan Law School and Marshall University. Curtis is a native of Winfield, where he now lives with his wife and two children.
Marissa Findlay – Director of Operations
Marissa has been a lifelong Republican operative and has worked with numerous Presidential and statewide officeholders nationwide for nearly two decades. She currently serves as the President of the West Virginia Federation of Republican Women and the National Committeewoman of the West Virginia Federation of Young Republicans. Marissa lives in Charleston with her husband and their four children.
John L. Findlay – Director of Intergovernmental and Political Affairs
John most recently served as the Convention Delegate Selection Director for President Donald Trump’s successful 2024 Presidential Campaign. John oversaw the victory program’s direct mail operations and implemented the campaign’s paid voter contact programs across the battleground states in the Fall. John has over a decade of experience managing Republican political campaigns and state parties including serving as the Executive Director of both the Republican Party of Virginia and the West Virginia Republican Party. He lives in Charleston with his wife and their four children.
Mike McKown – Director of Budget
Mike was West Virginia’s Director of State Budget office from 2006-2018, and has served the last three governors developing budgets. He has worked in six different state agencies in West Virginia state government, including most recently as Deputy State Auditor. Mike lives in Charleston with his wife and their four children.
Crescent Gallagher – Press Secretary
Crescent was the Deputy State Director for Americans for Prosperity-West Virginia (AFP-WV). Before joining AFP-WV, Gallagher served as the Director of Business Development and Communications, as well as the Legislative Liaison for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture under current Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. He is a graduate of Ohio University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and a master’s degree in public administration. Gallagher has over a decade of communications, policy development and legislative experience.
Katie Franklin – Deputy General Counsel
Katie has been an Assistant Attorney General since 2021. Previously, she was assistant prosecuting attorney for six years and served four years as the elected prosecutor of Jackson County. A lifelong West Virginia resident, Katie Franklin graduated from WVU College of Law in 2008.
Senator Eric Nelson – Secretary of Revenue
Eric was elected to the West Virginia Senate in 2020 after serving five terms in the House of Delegates. Most recently, Eric was Chairman of the majority caucus and the Pension Committee. Eric is also a successful small businessman and is the President of Nelson Enterprise, Inc. He graduated from Washington and Lee University with a degree in Business Administration and Accounting. Eric and his wife reside in Kanawha County, where all three of his children graduated from Kanawha County public schools.
The Honorable Eric Householder – Secretary of Administration
Eric was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2010, and served as Chairman of the House Finance Committee from 2019-2022. Most recently, Eric served as the House Majority Leader. In the legislature, Eric led on tax cuts, labor reform, and the state budget. Eric graduated from Shepherd College and holds an MBA from Frostburg State University.
Alex Mayer – Secretary of Human Services
Alex has over a decade of experience in Health and Human Services, holding leadership roles across multiple state agencies. Most recently, he served as the Chief of Children and Family Services at the South Dakota Department of Social Services, where he oversaw the Divisions of Child Support, Child Protection, and Economic Assistance. His portfolio included vital programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, LIEAP, and Childcare services. Alex is a dedicated military veteran with service in the 75th Ranger Regiment, and has devoted his career to supporting those most in need.
Harold Ward – Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection
Harold served as Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) under Governor Jim Justice and will be retained in that position. Previously, he served as WVDEP’s Deputy Secretary of Operations and Director of the Division of Mining and Reclamation (DMR). Harold holds a biology degree from West Virginia University.
The Honorable Dianna Graves – Commissioner of the Bureau of Senior Services
Dianna most recently served as the Executive Director of the Bob Burdette Center, where she led an education non-profit in Charleston that provided free afterschool education programs. Prior to that, Dianna was Delegate in the West Virginia legislature from 2017-2022, an accountant, and television and movie producer. Dianna graduated from Stanford University and West Virginia State University.