Kentucky Gov.-elect Andy Beshear fills more top posts in his administration
Gov.-elect Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov.-elect Jacqueline Coleman announced seven major appointments Friday for their administrations that begin next Tuesday.
At a Capitol news conference, Beshear said La Tasha Buckner, whom he named earlier to be his general counsel, also will be his chief of staff.
Beshear’s other appointments were Holly McCoy-Johnson, finance secretary; Mike Berry, tourism, arts and heritage secretary; John Hicks, budget director; Dorsey Ridley, legislative services director; and Tom Miller, revenue commissioner.
Coleman appointed Susan Rieber as her chief of staff.
“With today’s announcements, Jacqueline and I are once again making sure we have a talented and experienced team ready to get to work swiftly to address the issues affecting all Kentucky families,” said Beshear at a news conference in the Capitol.
Buckner, of Lexington, has been an assistant deputy general for the civil division in Beshear’s office of attorney general.
Johnson, of Frankfort, has most recently led administrative services in the attorney general’s office. She has worked for several state cabinets and was a member of the Alcohol Beverage Control Board.
Berry recently retired as head of the Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville. He has served on boards of numerous organizations.
Hicks has been executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers in Washington, D.C., since 2016. Prior to that, he spent 32 years in Kentucky state government, with 25 years in the state budget director’s office..
Ridley, a former state senator from Henderson, has served as regional business development director and former president of Henderson County Independence Bank.
Miller, of Louisville, has more than 25 years in the banking industry. He has worked for three governors, first serving as commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions and most recently as revenue department commissioner.
Rieber has been director of scheduling and special projects in the attorney general’s office. She also served as chief of staff to former First Lady Jane Beshear, the governor-elect’s mother.
Coleman said the decision to hire Rieber was entirely hers.
Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton, who will be leaving office Tuesday, has a legal battle with departing Gov. Matt Bevin on whether she can hire and fire staffers.
