Governor-elect Pat McCrory has filled several more cabinet postsRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A former legislator, mayor and federal prosecutor are among those who will serve in key cabinet positions for incoming North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory.
McCrory announced Thursday that he will appoint Winston-Salem businessman Lyons Gray to serve as his secretary of revenue, the state's chief tax collector. Gray served six terms in the state Legislature before joining the Bush administration.
Susan Wear Kluttz will serve as McCrory's secretary of cultural resources. Kluttz was mayor of Salisbury for 14 years and has been active as a historic preservationist.
McCrory named Raleigh defense attorney Kieran Shanahan as his secretary of public safety. Shanahan is a former federal prosecutor.
The governor-elect also filled other key jobs, including the appointment of wealthy Republican donor and former legislator Art Pope as deputy budget director.
"During this transition
process, I am continuing to build a strong team of talent," McCrory
said in a statement included in an email from his transition office. "These individuals will bring
enormous talent and experience to their respective roles, and will help me run
the government in the most effective way possible."
The email from McCrory's
transition team included these background notes on the appointees:
Lyons Gray will join the
Cabinet after serving as the Senior Advisor to the President of the University
of North Carolina system from 2011-2012. Previously, he served for four years
(2005-2009) as the Chief Financial Officer of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency, where he served as the principal agency representative to
Congress, the Office of Management and Budget and to the various states.
Susan Kluttz most recently
served 14 years as mayor of Salisbury and currently serves on the Salisbury
City Council. There, Kluttz helped develop the City's Cultural Arts Plan, and
created a tourism master plan for Salisbury, including reorganization of local
arts council. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro, where she also serves on the Board of Visitors.
Kieran Shanahan will enter
the McCrory administration with over five years of experience as an Assistant
United States Attorney, serving in both the Eastern District of North Carolina
and the Northern District of Georgia. There, he concentrated in the
investigation and prosecution of white collar crime.
The email included notes on these new members of the governor's staff:
Bob Stephens joins the McCrory
Administration from his law firm, Hamilton Stephens Steele & Martin.
Stephens is a life long resident of Charlotte and has spent his entire
professional career in Charlotte after serving as a first lieutenant in the
United States Army, Judge Advocate General Corp., 1970 – 1972.
Art Pope currently serves
as Co-Chair of the Governor-Elect's transition team and is also CEO and
Chairman of Variety Wholesalers, Inc. In 1988, Pope was elected to the North
Carolina House of Representatives, serving on both the Finance and
Appropriations committees.
Chris Walker, former
Southeastern Communications Advisor for the Romney for President campaign and
former Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Richard Burr, will lead the McCrory
Administration's communications team. He is a graduate of the University of
Tennessee.
Copyright
2012 WECT. Material
from the Associated Press was used in this report.
