Gov.-Elect John Bel Edwards announced Wednesday that Richard Carbo, former deputy press secretary for Gov. Kathleen Blanco, will serve as his communications director during the transition and into the new administration.
After leaving Blanco’s administration, Carbo went on to serve as aides to former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and former Democratic U.S. Rep. John Barrow of Georgia. Carbo most recently directed communications in the Washington, D.C., area for End Citizens United PAC, which has been fighting the destructive force of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 campaign finance decision that opened the door for corporations and unions to spend unlimited, untraceable money to defeat or elect candidates.
Carbo, who has a degree in communications from LSU and is an Alexandria native, assumes the new role Dec. 7, replacing Mary-Patricia Wray, who guided communications for the Edwards victory and had been assisting in the transition. Wray, according to Edwards, has decided to build her consulting business. “I can’t thank her enough for her loyalty to me and this cause over these last three years. I’m confident Richard and our new communications team will provide an unprecedented level of openness and accountability to Louisianans when we take office in January.”
Edwards also announced the formation of a new transition committee to begin the work of addressing the fiscal challenges facing the state. The Fiscal Matters Committee will be charged with identifying ways to eliminate the budget deficit, fund K-12 and higher education, and improve access to health care in the state.
Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell and Sharon Robinson, former inspector general and assistant legislative auditor, will serve as co-chairs of the Fiscal Matters Committee. The initial members of the committee will begin meeting this week and continue meeting multiple times a week throughout the transition.
Also serving on the committee are (local names bolded):
April Jordan, staff auditor, City of Shreveport Bob Keaton, retired, former sssistant to the president for budget, LSU Bryant Hammett, owner, Bryant Hammett & Associates Cade Cole, Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals, local tax judge Christopher Odinet, professor, Southern University Law Center Chuck Carpenter, compliance examiner, Office of Financial Institutions Darren Olagues, president, Cleco Power Desiree Honore Thomas, undersecretary, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism Edwin Murray, state senator Gregory A. Ruppert, director, Bureau of Revenue and Taxation, Jefferson Parish J.H. “Jay” Campbell, Jr., executive chairman, Associated Grocers James Richardson, Ph.D., Harris J. and Marie P. Chustz Endowed Professor, LSU Jan Moller, director, Louisiana Budget Project Jason Decuir, director, Ryan, LLC Jeff Koonce, vice president and general counsel, Bernhard Capital Partners Jerry Luke LeBlanc, vice president for administration and finance, UL Lafayette Kimberly Robinson, partner, Jones Walker, LLP Laura Veazey, government relations consultant, Focus Strategies Lauren Tarver, law student Lawrence Chehardy, attorney, former assessor for Jefferson Parish Lydia Jackson, vice president, CRA business development officer, Capital One Michael Deshotels, retired educator Paul Segura, owner, Segura Development Regina Hamilton, associate general counsel, Chicago Bridge & Iron Company Sean M. Bruno, CPA, Sean M. Bruno Certified Public Accountants Shane Riddle, Louisiana Association of Educators Stephanie Chavis Guillory, Louisiana Federation of Teachers Ted Jones, attorney Terrance Ginn, associate commissioner for finance, Louisiana Board of Regents Vanessa LaFleur, director of policy and legislative services, Louisiana Department of Revenue Wayne Brown, CEO, Brown Builders William C. Potter, senior tax director, Postlethwaite and Netterville