Markell selects McGonigle to be new COS
Gov.-elect Markell has selected a new Chief of Staff: Wilmington Attorney Thomas McGonigle.
McGonigle served as legal counsel to former Gov. Tom Carper and has worked as a lawyer representing the state for the past several years. Last year, he was hired to handle probes into conditions at the Delaware Psychiatric Center.
“Tom combines top-flight thinking about public policy with a core commitment to public service,” Markell said in a news release. “His previous experience in state government and his track record of delivering real results in the private sector will be critical as we work to make our vision of bold change a reality.”
I must tell you, I like this pick much more than Rochford. For one, he’s a Democrat! Second, I think the fact he was involved in investigating the DPC. What else do you know about McGonigle?
I just saw both of these men at work, waiting to be signed in. LOL! I kid you not.
I was walking to a neighboring coffee shop (where DV used to buy me coffee and stick IPod ear buds in interesting places-on himself) with a co-worker from Jersey. He was shocked to learn one of them was a Governor-elect. His amazment was, that in Jersey, there would probably be at least two, if not more, state police flanking the Governor-elect and you wouldn’t be able to get within a two-foot radius, without a proper check. Here, and probably “only in Delaware,” our Governor-elect has to stand to the side of the guard desk, waiting for someone to sign him in and escort him in the building.
This is in no way intended as disrespect, but I love that it happens here. Seriously, that just goes to show you how close we all still are to our upper-office politicians.
Only in Delaware…and we are better for it.
Oh, and not to get lost…DD, you partisan hack.
It’s been a while since I said that. Felt good.
I wonder if I should follow donhusseinsquishyviti’s lead and adopt that as my new alternate handle.
Partisan Hack
El Somnambulo knows him to be very level-headed (e.g. he’s not a blogger-type). Members of the D caucuses will feel far more comfortable with him than w/Rochford. El Somnambulo views the Rochford app’t as a rookie mistake.
I object to the Beast Who Slumbers’ slander against bloggers, but I agree with him on Rochford being Markell’s rookie mistake.
Interesting. El Som is in the know, so it was not just the dirty hippy types who didn’t like Rochy?
Jack’s new COS has a fair-sized list of Lobbying responsibilities including BWW.
http://www.delawaregov.us/pic/index.cfm?ref=74845
He’s also a long-time office-mate of fellow politically-connected local lawyer, Shawn Tucker – infamous for following Gordonberry around forevah-Fed wired and who now dumps the worst kinds of crud on our landscapes (e.g.Royal Farms gas station at Cooch’s Bridge and WFH).
Much better pick. OK, he’s a lobbyist but with a whiter hat. Bluewater Wind. Worked on nursing home reform issues. Experience in the Governor’s office. Not to mention easy on the eyes. Oh, yes, and a Democrat. The Ds will actually let him into their caucus. This is who Jack should’ve picked in the first place. I feel better now.
I wonder what Tom will have to say about how satisfied he may be feeling about how his leadership may have empowered either the DPC investigative council or the nursing home investigative council toward any real improvements. Neither one came up with much of anything but perhaps that is the nature of the kinds of task forces we are used to coming out of Woodburn.
My mom was suffering under some pretty awful conditions at the time of the nursing home investigations and I attended one of the hearings. She was living the high fallluting nursing home in Greenville so I can only imagine how bad things are for less fortunate people.
Does he get a pass for his firm lobbying for Wal Mart?
If a Republican had lobbied for them we would never hear the end of it.
OK, Delaware is a state about the size of Columbus, Ohio. For some reason, We The People provincially insist that all our cabinet members, Governor’s staff, appointees, etc., come from within our borders. How do you select from such a relatively small gene pool and avoid people who have worn at least a couple of hats? I am not advocating parochialism — far from it, I would like to see a DNREC secretary with some national credentials, no Delaware baggage and no knowledge of what the so-called DNREC “culture” believes can or can’t be done.