Morrisey Announces Transition Team, Plans On ‘Repurposing And Resizing Government’

Governor-Elect Patrick Morrisey held his first press briefing Tuesday. He announced seven co-leaders of his transition team while outlining his plans to prepare for wide-scale executive and legislative efforts when he is sworn in Jan. 13.

“I certainly am looking forward to working with the legislature and trying to come up with as many agreements as possible in advance,” Morrisey said. “That’s the best way to do it, so we can move rapidly. I think that the legislature and the governor have a mandate to govern, and you see that through the election results.”

Morrisey won 62.11 percent of votes in the governor’s race, according to the Secretary of State’s website. Gov. Jim Justice won 68.90 percent of votes in his Senate race, and President-elect Donald Trump won 70.15 percent of votes in West Virginia for the presidential race.

Morrisey said his team has been working with incoming Board of Public Works officials and Justice’s office to prepare for budget and legislative priorities during his term and during the upcoming legislative session. Morrisey also urged West Virginians to submit feedback and resumes through his transition nonprofit, West Virginia Prosperity Group.

“We’re going to be spending a lot of time on repurposing and resizing government,” Morrisey said.

Morrisey said that process will start with his team conducting an audit and personnel review of the state government. He said his team had also been “in touch” with the incoming Trump administration and seeks a close governing relationship.

“I want West Virginia to be out in front, collaborating with President Trump on as many different issues as possible,” Morrisey said.

The seven transitional team co-leaders are Del. Eric Householder, R-Berkeley, the outgoing House Majority Leader; Doug Buffington, chief deputy at Morrisey’s Attorney General’s office; Karen Evans, former U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; Julie Kominsky, Raleigh County GOP Chair; Conrad Lucas, former chair of the Republican Party of West Virginia; and James Laurita, former chairman of the West Virginia Coal Association.