More Culver moves

Governor-elect Chet Culver makes it official.  Department of Economic developt director Mike Blouin’s gone, as is "Drug Czar" Marvin Van Haaften.

Culver’s camp issued the following news release this afternoon:

(Des Moines)  Today, Governor-elect Chet Culver and Lt. Governor-elect Patty Judge announced another round of appointments to their administration. Included in the announcements are Gary Kendell as the Director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, Ralph Rosenberg as the Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and David Miller as the Administrator of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division. In addition, Governor-elect Culver has accepted the resignations of the following department Directors: Anita Walker, Department of Cultural Affairs; Steve Young, Department of Inspections and Appeals; Michael Blouin, Department of Economic Development; Mark Haverland, Department of Elder Affairs. Mark Haverland will continue at the Department of Elder Affairs until a replacement is named.

Effective January 12, 2007, the following people will serve as acting directors until a permanent director is named:

Department of Cultural Affairs: Cindy Pederson, currently the acting deputy director of the Department of Cultural Affairs

Department of Inspections and Appeals: Dean Learner, currently the deputy director of the Department of Inspections and Appeals

Department of Economic Development: Michael Tramontina, currently the Director of the Department of Management

“We have completed a lot of work in a short amount of time and I am honored that such qualified and experienced people have agreed to serve in my administration,” said Governor-elect Chet Culver.  “It is going to take time to fill all these positions, but I am grateful that there are capable and hardworking people who have agreed to serve as acting directors in the interim.  Lt. Governor-elect Judge and I and have spent a lot of time interviewing people for these positions, and we will continue to do so until the right person is found and every director position is filled. We would also like to thank the outgoing Directors for their dedication and service to all Iowans, and we wish them the best in the future.”

Today’s announcements include:

Gary Kendell, Director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy: Gary Kendell received his law degree from Drake University in 1996.  Since becoming a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Kendell has served in the Warren County, Marion County and Polk County Attorney’s Offices.  He has served as a Drug Task Force prosecutor, a member of the Drug & Gang Unit and was elected Warren County Attorney in 2002.  Over his ten year legal career, Kendell has prosecuted over sixty jury trials that have ranged from misdemeanors to class A felonies and has worked in rural, suburban and urban court systems.

David Miller, Administrator of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division: David Miller has been the Administrator of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division since July 2004.  Prior to his appointment, Miller served as the Executive Officer and Chief of Staff for the Department.  David Miller has served throughout the country in emergency planning and emergency management positions and is currently a member of the National Emergency Management Association and the Iowa Emergency Response Coalition.  He is a graduate of Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids and served in the United States Navy for five years.

Ralph Rosenberg, Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission: Ralph Rosenberg has served as the Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission since March 2004. Prior to his appointment, Rosenberg served as the interim Executive Director for Heartland Senior Services. Other previous experience includes: serving as executive director of the Coalition for Children’s and Family Services in Iowa, a group of 32 private and public agencies that provide services to at-risk children and families; coordinator and chair of the Institute for Public Leadership, a statewide institute to train emerging leaders in state government, and executive director of the Youth Law Center in Des Moines. Rosenberg served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1981 to 1990 and in the State Senate from 1991 to 1994.