Forget John Kerry and Susan Rice. Auditor General-elect Eugene DePasquale announced his transition team on Tuesday. It contains a number of familiar names from the Rendell era.
“We want to be ready on day one to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania, and am thrilled to have the guidance of a strong, diverse, and experienced transition team,” said DePasquale. He noted no taxpayer funds are being used for the transition.
Here are the names and bios from the DePasquale press release.
The co-chairs of the transition team are Joe Powers and Dave Myers. Powers served in a variety of roles in state government, including stints as Chief of Staff to the Lieutenant Governor and Executive Deputy Secretary in the Department of Environmental Protection, and is currently an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at St. Joseph’s University. Myers, who is the Director of the O’Pake Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Public Service at Alvernia University in Reading, served in senior management positions in the Rendell and Casey administrations.
Suzanne Itzko and Liz Wagenseller are serving as co-coordinators of the transition team. Itzko formerly served as Deputy Secretary of Administration for PennDOT; Wagenseller was DePasquale’s campaign manager for his auditor general race.Wagenseller will also serve as press contact during the transition period.
Committee chairs and other members include:
Abe Amoros, former DePasquale campaign chairman
Chuck Ardo, a West Shore based communications consultant
Charlie Bacas, a former Cabinet office under Gov. Casey and co-founder of software tool company
Joan Benso, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
Neal Bisno, President of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania and Secretary-Treasurer of the SEIU PA State Council
Ron Boston, Director of Government Relations, Triad Strategies
Stuart W. Davidson, attorney at Willig, Williams & Davidson, representing labor unions and employee benefit plans
Ron Deibert, former deputy auditor general
Gerald Lawrence, attorney who represents institutions and individuals ranging from Fortune 100 companies to small businesses to individuals and is General Counsel to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
John Lori, controller for Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania
Cathy Myers, faculty member at Alvernia University
Tony Ross, President of United Way of Pennsylvania
Adrian E. Shanker, President of Equality Pennsylvania
Mary Soderberg, former Budget Secretary, currently adjunct faculty at the Fels Institute at the University of Pennsylvania
David Sweet, attorney and former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Jim Wansacz, Chairman of Lackawanna County Commissioners
Tom Weaver, former Executive Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth
9 Responses
Stuart W. Davidson: Great choice
This is a particularly outstanding team and will assure that the New Auditor General has a team that will match his campaign promises relative to aduting the effectiveness as well as the money spent on PA programs.
I trust Eugene on spending based on history and track record, but how does this not cost the taxpayer any money? Are these individuals donating their time?
Transition? From what to what?
Wansacz? That guy would lose to a bag of rocks in a debate. He was a former rep in Harrisburg and a Veon protege. He sounds like he is from West Virginia…the bad part.
Joe Powers is a very smart person and the new AG is lucky to have him on board.
Are transition teams usually this large (20+ members)?
Eugene and kathleen could damage Corbett and the republican must find a another candate
follow the Corbett campaign funding.