Secretary Thompson Relies on Wisconsin ‘Allies’ to Fill Bush Administration Slots
More than 12 Wisconsin "allies" have joined HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson in the Bush administration, the AP/St. Paul Pioneer Planet reports. Among those who followed the former governor include:
- Scott Evertz, a "political ally" of Thompson, is the newly appointed director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy;
- Tony Jewell, formerly Thompson's press secretary, now works in HHS public affairs;
- Bob Wood, former chief of staff in the governor's office, now is the HHS chief of staff;
- Kevin Keane, former executive assistant for the governor, now awaits Senate confirmation to become assistant secretary for HHS public affairs;
- Ladd Wiley, former chief legal counsel for Thompson, now is an HHS lawyer;
- Joe Leann, former secretary of Wisconsin Health and Family Services, now is an HHS consultant;
- Ed Sontag, former policy assistant to Thompson, now is HHS deputy chief of staff for operations;
- Bill Steiger, former policy adviser to Thompson, now works in international health at HHS;
- Brett Davis, former policy assistant, now is Thompson's special assistant at HHS;
- Katy Rusch, former communications assistant in the governor's office, now is HHS special assistant; and
- Ginny Gunderson, a former policy assistant, now is an HHS special assistant (AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press, 4/11).
