Tuesday, January 4, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, (573)751-1378
Blunt Announces 11 Appointments
Nominates Directors of Insurance, Corrections, SEMA; Names Legal Staff, Communications, and Appointments Directors in Governor's Office
JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. -elect Matt Blunt announced two cabinet appointments, five sub-cabinet appointments and four appointments to his gubernatorial staff in a Capitol news conference today.
Blunt's choice to lead the Missouri Department of Corrections is former State Representative Larry Crawford of Centertown. Crawford, 52, served for eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives where he earned a reputation as a bipartisan consensus builder. Crawford owned a small business and served as the Moniteau County Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds prior to being elected to the House.
Blunt has tapped St. Louis native Dale Finke to head the Department of Insurance. Finke, 65, has worked in the insurance business in a variety of capacities since 1957. Finke shares gov.-elect Blunt's goal to control the cost of insurance premiums so that Missouri businesses and physicians can be allowed to operate effectively.
Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Ronald Reynolds is Blunt's choice to lead the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). SEMA is a part of the office of the Adjutant General and assists in coordination of national, state, and local activities related to emergency functions. Reynolds, 55, served in the United States Army from 1976-1998 where he worked as a traffic manager, senior operations director and operations officer. Reynolds was also a professor of military science at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
Blunt has reappointed Keith Fuller, 38, of Columbia to serve as the Director of the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control in the Department of Public Safety. Fuller holds a bachelors degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., and a law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Fuller has previously served as the Associate Vice President for Advancement and University Counsel at Lincoln University and as the Assistant City Counselor in the St. Louis City Counselor's office.
Former State Representative Pat Secrest has been chosen by Blunt to serve as the Director of Workers' Compensation in the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Secrest, 60, of Manchester served in the Missouri House from 1991-2003. While in the House, Secrest became an authority on workers' compensation issues. Her work in this area helped garner her the honor of representing Missouri on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) where she took part in research and hearings on the impact of workers' compensation laws in all 50 states.
Blunt has appointed Doug Ommen, 46, of Jefferson City, to serve as the Deputy Director and General Counsel in the Department of Insurance. Ommen is currently serving as the Missouri Commissioner of Securities, a post he was appointed to by Blunt in 2001. Ommen previously served as the Chief Counsel in the Consumer Protection Division of Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon's office.
Blunt has selected Alison Craighead, 29, to serve as the Director of the Division of Professional Registration. Craighead holds a bachelors degree from Baylor University and a master's degree from Texas Tech University. She is currently working as the Political Affairs Director for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. The Division of Professional Registration, housed within the Department of Economic Development is charged with management oversight and support for the state's professional licensing boards.
Blunt announced that Spence Jackson would serve as his Communications Director in the governor's office. Jackson, 33, a Springfield, Mo., native held the same position in Blunt's campaign for governor and in the Missouri Secretary of State's office.
Joining Jackson in the governor's office will be Terry Jarrett, Omar Davis and James Harris. Jarrett, 45 of Jefferson City, will serve as Blunt's General Counsel, a position held under Blunt in the Secretary of State's office. Davis, 30, will serve as the Deputy General Counsel.
Harris, 28, a Franklin County, Mo., native, will serve as the Director of Boards and Commissions. Harris worked as the Political Director on Blunt's campaign for governor and previously served as the Chief of Staff to Congressman John Carter (R-TX).
The appointments of Crawford, Finke, and Craighead are all subject to Senate confirmation.