MONTPELIER (AP) — Gov. Peter Shumlin on Tuesday shook up the top ranks of his administration, with the announcement of seven senior staff changes.
Chief of Staff Bill Lofy is leaving to join the Democratic Governors Association, which Shumlin hopes to chair after an election in that group next month.
Lofy will be replaced by Elizabeth Miller, currently commissioner of the Department of Public Service. She’ll be replaced there by Chris Recchia, who’s currently the deputy secretary of natural resources.
Mental Health Commissioner Patrick Flood is stepping down, to be replaced temporarily by his deputy, Mary Moulton.
Alex MacLean is leaving her job as Shumlin’s deputy chief of staff to work in the private sector. She work on Shumlin’s staff during his tenure as President Pro Tem of the Vermont Senate, and has run his two successful gubernatorial campaigns.
Steve Kimbell, whom Shumlin coaxed out of retirement to head the Department of Financial Regulation (previously known as BISHCA), is leaving, too. Susan Donegan, Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, will replace Kimbell in the top job. Donogan came to BISHCA after serving as counsel to the commissioner of the Massachusetts Insurance Division.
In other changes, Dixie Henry will become Deputy Secretary of the Agency of Human Services. Henry has served as Senior Policy and Legal Advisor to the Department of Health, and has previously served as deputy commissioner for Public Health, and as the assistant Attorney General for the Health Department.