Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Winners From Last Week's Election Forming Teams To Transition To New Offices

Gov.-elect Mike DeWine (center) introduces members of his transition team (l-r): Communications Director Lisa Peterson, Director of Transition Committee Laurel Dawson and LeeAnn Cornyn, in the newly created position of Director of Children's Initiatives.
Andy Chow
Gov.-elect Mike DeWine (center) introduces members of his transition team (l-r): Communications Director Lisa Peterson, Director of Transition Committee Laurel Dawson and LeeAnn Cornyn, in the newly created position of Director of Children's Initiatives.

Gov.-elect Mike DeWine and incoming Secretary of State Frank LaRose have announced their transition teams – the people who will help set policy, personnel and priorities for the next four years.

Brian Hicks headed up Gov.-elect Bob Taft’s transition team as he took over for fellow Republican George Voinovich in 1998.  Hicks said everyone needs to work fast to be ready for the budget process in January.  And he thinks DeWine’s transition team, led by longtime aide Laurel Dawson, will cast a wide net. “If you go back and you look at some of the appointments that Voinovich did and that even Taft did, there were Democrats who served in their administration," Hicks said. "And I would expect that would be the case this year.”

LaRose selected for his transition team former Speaker JoAnn Davidsonand former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, who’s now a conservative commentator blasting Democrats in the Florida recount.  Hicks said transition teams are selected for skill sets and sometimes for symbolism.

Copyright 2018 The Statehouse News Bureau

Contact Karen at 614/578-6375 or at kkasler@statehousenews.org.