Author: Sarah Doyel
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Davis Appointed to Louisiana State Board of Education
Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) appointed Louisiana State University professor Belinda Davis to the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education effective January 13, 2020. Davis fills the at-large seat formerly held by Lurie Thomason, who resigned in December 2019 for health-related reasons. Davis ran unsuccessfully for the 70th District seat in the Louisiana House…
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Mississippi Executive Director of Environmental Quality Resigns
The former Executive Director of Mississippi’s Department of Environmental Quality, Gary Rikard, resigned from his position on January 13, 2020. Newly elected Gov. Tate Reeves (R) was sworn in the following day. Rikard served as director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality since 2014 after former Gov. Phil Bryant (R) appointed him to the…
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Former Rep. Michaux Appointed to North Carolina State Senate
On January 13, 2020, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) appointed former state Rep. Henry “Mickey” Michaux, Jr. (D) to represent District 20 in the state Senate. Michaux had retired from the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2018. He was nominated by Durham County Democrats for the vacancy. Former Sen. Floyd McKissick, Jr. (D)…
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Grassley sworn in as speaker of the Iowa House
On January 13, 2020, Rep. Pat Grassley (R) was sworn in as speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives. House Republicans elected Grassley as speaker in October 2019 after Rep. Linda Upmeyer (R) announced she would step down as speaker at the end of 2019. Grassley has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since…
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Gonzalez Jr. appointed to Illinois House of Representatives
On January 10, 2020, the Democratic Legislative Committee of Illinois’ 21st Legislative District appointed Edgar Gonzalez Jr. (D) to the state House of Representatives. Gonzalez succeeds former state Rep. Celina Villanueva (D), who was appointed to the Illinois State Senate on January 7. At 23 years old, Gonzalez is among the youngest legislators to ever…
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Polis Appoints Perkins to Colorado Public Utilities Commission
On January 13, 2020, Gov. Jared Polis (D) appointed attorney Susan Perkins to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, succeeding Frances Koncilja. Polis had announced on Jan. 3 that he would not reappoint Koncilja when her term ended. The Pueblo Chieftain reported that according to Koncilja, Polis said that he was satisfied with her work but…
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Governor Ivey Appoints Stewart to Alabama State Board of Education
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) appointed Dr. Tommie Stewart to represent District 5 of the Alabama State Board of Education on January 7, 2020. Stewart’s appointment was effective immediately and filled the vacancy left by former Board member Ella Bell, who died in November 2019. Stewart previously served as the dean of Alabama State University’s…
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California’s Hunter Resigns from U.S. House
On January 13, 2020, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) resigned from the U.S. House. In December 2019, Hunter pleaded guilty to misuse of campaign funds and announced that he would resign after the holidays. In August 2018, Hunter and his wife and former campaign manager, Margaret, were indicted on federal charges of wire fraud, falsifying records,…
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Findley Named to Replace Bentz in Oregon Senate
County commissioners from several eastern Oregon counties appointed Lynn Findley (R) to represent the 30th District in the Oregon State Senate, effective January 9, 2020. The 30th District is comprised of six entire counties and parts of three others. The seat had been vacant since former state Sen. Cliff Bentz (R) resigned to run for…
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Incoming New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance assumed office January 1st
Russell Toal, the newly appointed New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance, took office on January 1, 2020. Toal was appointed to fill the nonpartisan position following John Franchini’s retirement in December 2019. The insurance nominating committee appointed Toal unanimously from among eight candidates for the position. The committee chairwoman and former lieutenant governor of New Mexico,…