Around this time, every four years in Louisiana, attention is focused upon who will make up the Governor’s cabinet and key administration officials. Eight years ago, when Bobby Jindal put together his transition team, there were many new names and faces since the prior Republican Governor, Mike Foster, had left office in 2004. Obviously, as Jindal is a republican, the top jobs were lined with party or campaign leaders. This year, there are a number of familiar faces from prior administrative jobs, elective offices, and yes, even a campaign opponent, in Republican Jay Dardenne. So here is the most recent list of new cabinet or high administration post officials selected by incoming governor Jon Bel Edwards:
Chief of Staff, Senator Ben W. Nevers
Commissioner of the Division of Administration, Jay Dardenne
Secretary, Department of Transportation and Development – Shawn Wilson
Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development – Don Pierson
Secretary, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries – Charlie Melancon
Secretary of Department of Revenue, Kimberly Lewis Robinson
Executive Counsel – Matthew Block
Special Counsel – Erin Monroe Wesley
Deputy Chief of Staff, Communications, Legal, Special Projects – Julie Baxter Payer
Deputy Chief of Staff, Intergovernmental Affairs – Toye Taylor
Deputy Chief of Staff, Programming and Planning – Johnny G. Anderson
Richard Carbo will serve as his new Communications Director
Adjutant General, Louisiana National Guard – Major General Glenn Curtis
Superintendent, Louisiana State Police – Colonel Michael Edmonson
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs – Joey Strickland
Commissioner, Office of Motor Vehicle – Karen St. Germain
Commissioner, Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control – Juana Marine-Lombard
for the duration of the transition and in the administration. Richard will assume the new role on Monday, December 7th.
