With less than two weeks until his inauguration day, Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey announced Thursday the names of the officials who will lead his administration.
Morrisey announced a total of 15 people who will fill leadership and Cabinet positions. They include longtime Republican activists, people who worked with him in the state’s attorney general’s office, and current and former state lawmakers, among others.
Morrisey said his picks — some of which must be confirmed by the state Senate because they are Cabinet positions — represent where he most wants to see change in the state’s leadership. A complete list of these officials can be found at the end of this story
“I’m just thrilled that these people have agreed to be such an important part of the team going forward because they know that West Virginia faces great challenges,” Morrisey said of his selection. “Certainly there has been progress in some areas in recent years, but we know there is still much greatness ahead.”
One of the governor-elect’s main concerns is “right-sizing” state government, he said. This will be achieved by conducting audits to determine where certain systems and services can be performed more efficiently.
“I think you’ll see a focus on efficiency, accountability and growth by solving the fundamental challenges facing the state – and there are significant ones,” Morrisey said.
Much of the fresh government will be made up of people already in the state, but at least three positions will be filled by those fresh to West Virginia.
“Look, I mean, I’m going to take talent wherever it comes,” Morrisey said. “I want to send a message across the country. If you’re the best at your position, you have a place at West Virginia.”
Notably, fresh arrivals to the Mountain State include Alex Mayer, whom Morrisey named secretary of human services, a position currently held by Cynthia Persily.
Mayer will come to West Virginia from South Dakota. According to a biography provided via press release, Mayer has more than a decade of experience in various leadership positions at health and human services agencies. A veteran, he most recently served as director of child and family services for the South Dakota Department of Social Services.
Morrisey said he knows the DoHS is a arduous agency to manage, and while he thanked those who worked there under Gov. Jim Justice’s administration, he said change is needed.
“I wanted to send the message that we have someone who has been very successful in this area, who understands care issues, who knows the importance of treating families with great respect and who knows these programs,” Morrisey said .
DoHS has come under scrutiny this year how it dealt with a high-profile child death in Boone County and for his lack of answers to questions about children’s issues, including the Decision to close a long-time children’s home in Elkins. Lawmakers were frustrated by the agency’s dismal spending on child care subsidies and Services for people with disabilities.
legislators last year DoHS created after he decided to dismantle West Virginia’s massive Department of Health and Human Resources. Morrisey’s leadership of the Department of Health Facilities and the Department of Health – also created in the wake of the DHHR split – has not yet been announced.
Morrisey also said Sen. Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha, will leave the Senate to serve as the fresh Treasury secretary. His departure from parliament means an appointment to fill the now vacant seat is expected in the coming weeks.
Morrisey’s inauguration will take place on January 13th. For a full list of the day’s events or to purchase tickets, visit http://wvwins.com.
Morrisey said there will be further announcements about other positions and news about his move in the coming weeks.
Here’s a full list of who Morrisey appointed to his government on Thursday:
(*15*)The management team:
Chief of Staff – Tom McCaffery, who served as deputy secretary for health affairs and first deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Defense under former President Donald Trump.
Senior Counsel – Douglas P. Buffington II, who served as Deputy Attorney General under Attorney General Morrisey, where he assisted in the supervision and administration of the attorneys and office.
Deputy Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Energy, Infrastructure and Competitiveness Council – A. Todd Johnston, who most recently served as vice president and executive director of ConservAmerica, a right-wing environmental and energy nonprofit.
General Counsel – Sean M. Whelan, who served under Morrisey as Assistant Attorney General and Division Chief of the West Virginia Attorney General’s Tax and Revenue Division.
Director of Policy – Curtis RA Capehart, who served as Deputy Attorney General in the Attorney General’s Department under Morrisey.
Operations Manager – Marissa Findlay, a “lifelong Republican activist” who serves as president of the West Virginia Federation of Republican Women.
Director of Intergovernmental and Political Affairs – John L. Findlay, who served as the convention delegate selection director for Trump’s 2024 campaign and previously executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia and the Republican Party of West Virginia.
Budget Director – Mike McKown, who served as director of the West Virginia State Budget Office from 2006 to 2018.
Press Secretary – Crescent Gallagher, who returns to state government after serving as deputy state director for Americans for Prosperity-West Virginia, which heavily supported Morrisey’s campaign. Gallagher previously worked at the Department of Agriculture, where he held numerous roles.
Deputy Attorney General – Katie Franklin, who has served as Deputy Attorney General under Morrisey since 2021.
(*15*)Cabinet positions:
Treasury Secretary – Sen. Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha, who was elected to the State Senate in 2020 after five terms in the House.
Secretary of Administration – Eric Householder, who served in the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2024, when he did not seek re-election and instead ran a failed campaign for state auditor. Householder served as chairman of the House Finance Committee for three years and served as House Majority Leader during his final term.
Secretary of Human Services – Alex Mayer, who comes to the state from South Dakota, where he served as director of child and family services in the state Department of Social Services, overseeing the child support, child welfare and economic assistance departments.
Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection – Harold Ward, who held this position under the Justice Department and will retain it during the transition.
Bureau of Senior Services Commissioner – Dianna Graves, a former Republican member of the House of Representatives who lost her re-election bid in 2022. Graves was most recently executive director of the Bob Burdette Center, where she led a nonprofit educational organization in Charleston that provided free after-school education programs.
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