Corbett names members of transition team
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HARRISBURG - Political donors and supporters. CEOs and priests. Tea partiers and even a sprinkling of Democrats.
All are among the 400 people Gov.-elect Tom Corbett has selected to man the 17 groups on his transition team that will examine every state department and help formulate policy, choose key personnel and recommend ways to cut costs.
In releasing the names Tuesday, Mr. Corbett, a Republican who campaigned on a no-tax pledge, said he didn't check voter registration logs when choosing the slate.
"I didn't ask everybody their registration, I really didn't," he said. "That's not a requirement."
"It's a wide spectrum of people," Mr. Corbett added, including many who helped or worked with Gov. Tom Ridge and Gov. Dick Thornburgh's administrations, as well as people who worked with him when he was in private practice as an attorney.
Mr. Corbett, who is to be sworn in Jan. 18, reiterated Tuesday that a top priority will be to present a balanced budget and to resolve the state's projected $4 billion deficit.
University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg was named to a key post on the transition team. Along with Joel Greenberg of the global investment company Susquehanna International Group, Mr. Nordenberg will head the transition team's 32-member education committee.
"The chancellor is honored to have been asked to serve on he governor-elect's transition team. He's looking forward to the opportunity to help explore education issues that are important to the commonwealth," said Pitt spokesman John Fedele.
Mr. Fedele had no details about what Mr. Nordenberg might contribute to the transition team or how he might work with his co-chairman.
Mr. Corbett stacked his education team with staunch advocates of charter schools. They include Vahan Gureghian, operator of the state's largest charter school and a campaign contributor who deposited $250,000 into Mr. Corbett's election war chest.
Also on the education team is state Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, who is one of the Legislature's most vocal proponents of school choice.
The Education Committee also includes members from community colleges, conservative think tanks, law firms, the Mt. Lebanon Library, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg and the state Board of Education.
Two other Pitt administrators also were named to the transition team. Jerome Cochran, executive vice chancellor and general counsel, will serve on the Budget, Pensions and Revenue Committee, while Vice Chancellor Everette James will work on the Health and Aging Committee.
First Published December 1, 2010 12:34 am
