Justice team a Who's Who of West Virginia talent

“That’s his philosophy: To get the very best he can.”

Team Players

Justice’s transition team and cabinet appointments read like a who’s who of business, education and economic experts from all over West Virginia. Puccio is a well-known lobbyist and political consultant with years of experience.

Puccio served as chief of staff for current U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., when Manchin served as West Virginia secretary of state from 2001 to 2005, and he remained Manchin’s chief of staff when Manchin was elected governor. Puccio served as a lobbyist in 2010, 2012 and 2014, representing clients that included: Anheuser-Busch Inc., Charles Town Races and Slots, FirstEnergy, Frontier Communications Corp., Ohio Valley Medical Center/East Ohio Regional Hospital, Pallotine Health Service, United Health System Inc. and West Virginia University Research Corp. and Justice’s Southern Coal Corp. as well as The Greenbrier. Puccio also served as chairman of the state Democratic Party from 2010 to 2015, and is considered one of the most influential Democrats in the state.

Shortly after winning the November general election, Justice set up eight policy committees to steer the transition team in addressing economic development, public and higher education, health care, energy and the environment, tourism, infrastructure and the statewide drug epidemic.

Those appointed to lead the committees included West Virginia University Provost Joyce McConnell and Marshall University Provost Gayle Ormiston in charge of higher education; Huntington business mogul Marshall Reynolds and attorney Carte Goodwin on the team for economic development; Huntington Mayor Steve Williams on the drug epidemic steering team; and Dr. Clay Marsh, who runs the academic health sciences center at WVU, on the team addressing health care and the Department of Health and Human Resources.

“We have an outstanding group of experts heading up each policy committee, and I look forward to working with them to prepare for my first day in office,” Justice said, when the team was announced. “I don’t care if it’s an idea from a Democrat or a Republican; a good idea is a good idea. This is about getting the best and brightest in the same room to share their ideas for taking West Virginia on a rocket ride to the top.”

Justice as Cabinet Maker

Justice has taken a similar approach to cabinet positions. Justice frequently reminded voters while campaigning that he wasn’t a politician, but his picks for top offices and advisers are familiar names to most political observers.

For chief of staff, Justice picked Nick Casey, a Charleston-based attorney well-known for his cool demeanor and negotiating skills. Casey, a former head of the West Virginia Democratic Party, was recommended for a federal judgeship by former U.S. Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va. Casey also holds a degree in accounting, skills he has used throughout his career. Casey is one of those Justice will rely upon to do the heavy lifting in preparing the state’s budget.

“Nick has been a leader not only in his community, but in the whole state of West Virginia,” Puccio said.

Justice appointed Wood County Sheriff Jeff Sandy, a forensic investigation specialist who spent 25 years as a special agent with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, as secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. Sandy replaces Secretary Joe Thornton.

Sandy is also an anti-terrorism specialist who took part in counterterrorism missions in Iraq.

“He’s just done phenomenal things,” Puccio said.

Originally tapped to take part in the steering committee on economic development, Justice appointed Harrison County entrepreneur and businessman Woody Thrasher as secretary of commerce. One of his biggest jobs will be attracting new business to the state.

Thrasher is president of The Thrasher Group, an engineering and architecture firm with offices in West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio and Maryland. He also is managing partner of the White Oaks business park in Bridgeport.

“Woody has built and grown one of the strongest businesses in the state of West Virginia,” Puccio said.

Puccio said Justice hasn’t yet made sweeping decisions of who is staying and who is going from the administration of outgoing Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

“We’re taking a position at a time, and there’s a great deal of thought going into it,” Puccio said. “This governor-elect is very strong on hearing their philosophies.”

Tomblin cabinet members who don’t make the final cut won’t have been passed over because they didn’t do a good job, Puccio said.

“There are some folks (in the Tomblin administration) who have done an outstanding job,” he said.

But Justice has already made a number of cabinet appointments. Institute native and U.S. Army veteran Dennis Davis will be Secretary of Veterans Assistance under Justice’s administration, replacing Billy Wayne Bailey.

Health care consultant Bill J. Crouch will take over as secretary of the DHHR, replacing Secretary Karen Bowling, who resigned in December. Justice appointed Greenbrier County Sheriff Jan Cahill, a former West Virginia State Police trooper who rose through the ranks to command positions, as State Police superintendent. Cahill replaces Superintendent Jay Smithers, who also resigned.

For state revenue secretary, Justice tapped Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy, a lawyer who also has a degree in accounting. Hardy, who teaches college courses in accounting, public policy and public budgeting, will replace Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss.

But at least one member of Tomblin’s administration is staying. Justice reappointed Pat Reed as commissioner of the state Division of Motor Vehicles.

“Commissioner Reed has worked tirelessly to modernize the state DMV, and I’m thrilled she will continue to have the highest standards for customer service for her operation,” Justice said at the time. “She is an innovative thinker, and that’s exactly what I am looking for in my administration. I look forward to seeing more of her big ideas become a reality.”