Governor Announces Changes in Administration
Montpelier -- Governor Jim Douglas has announced that the secretaries
of human services and administration are planning to switch positions in
the next phase of the Governor's efforts to strengthen government
services, save Medicaid and reform health care.
Effective Monday, February 21, Charlie Smith will become administration
secretary, state government's equivalent of a chief operating officer and
Mike Smith will become human services secretary, overseeing the largest
and most costly agency in state government. Both men will work closely
together to ensure a smooth transition of all management and legislative
issues.
Governor Douglas said both men have served extraordinarily well in their
current positions and that each agency will benefit from the change.
"Charlie and Mike are invaluable members of my team and both have worked
very hard in their agencies to improve the service we provide Vermonters,"
Douglas said. "Each of them offers important skills that will benefit the
agency they are moving to."
Douglas noted in particular Charlie Smith's work with consumer and peer
advocates to develop and embark on an intensive effort to transform the
way the Agency of Human Services delivers its services. After months of
meetings, focus groups and surveys, a plan for one of the most significant
reorganization of government services in more than two decades was
presented to the legislature and approved in the waning days of the last
biennium.
"This is the next phase of our government reorganization efforts," Douglas
said. "A few of our folks will be changing positions, but we're keeping
the same great team on the field."
SAVING MEDICAID
Douglas said both men would continue to work closely to address current
budget challenges, especially his plans for health care reform and saving
Medicaid for the most vulnerable.
Vermont's Medicaid program faces extreme and deepening annual deficits.
Without structural and programmatic changes in the fiscal year 2006, the
Medicaid deficit is of $80 million is expected to approach three-quarters
of a billion dollars over the upcoming 5 fiscal years.
ABOUT CHARLIE SMITH
Douglas chose Charlie Smith to lead is Agency of Human Services in
December 2002. Smith, 50, of Burlington, was District president of Key
Bank and President of the United Way of Chittenden County.
"Charlie is a proven public and private sector manager, as well as a
community leader," Douglas said. "Charlie has all the skills required to
accomplish my goals for state government."
Douglas pointed out that he asked him to "create a Human Services Agency
that delivers services more efficiently and more effectively,
significantly improves the client's experience with the Agency and will
maximize the value of every tax dollar spent in this agency each year." A
challenge he has met through an Agency wide reorganization.
In the late 1970's Smith served two terms in the Vermont House of
Representatives and later served as staff director for then Congressman
Jim Jeffords.
Smith earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard University.
ABOUT MIKE SMITH
Prior to his appointment in December 2002 as administration secretary,
Mike Smith, 51, was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
of Yankee Captive Management, Inc., an independent captive management firm
located in Vermont.
He has also sat on the Board of Directors of the Yankee Insurance Group,
whose subsidiaries include Hackett, Valine and MacDonald and Yankee
Captive Management, Inc. From 1995-1999, Smith served as Deputy State
Treasurer under then State Treasurer Jim Douglas.
Prior to returning to the public sector, Smith was the General Manager of
Public Employer Risk Management Association, Inc. (PERMA) a workers'
compensation insurance pool for public entities.
In addition, Smith has been a partner of MMA Consulting Group, Inc., a
consulting firm for cities and towns in the northeast. He is also former
town manager of Hardwick, Vermont and a former member of the Vermont
Legislature representing his hometown of Woodstock and surrounding area.
From 1972-1975, Smith was a member of the highly decorated SEAL Team Two,
the U.S. Navy's elite commando unit.
Born in Rutland, Vermont, Smith earned a bachelor's and master's degree
from the University of Vermont.
Smith will head the largest agency in state government. "Mike is a man of
great compassion and strength," Douglas said. "He will make an excellent
human services secretary."
OTHER CHANGES
* Commissioner of Human Resources Cindy LaWare will become
Deputy Secretary of the Agency of Human Services.
* Commissioner of Finance Robert Hofmann will become
Commissioner of Corrections
* Deputy Commissioner of Finance Jim Reardon will become
Commissioner of Finance and Management.
* Commissioner of Corrections Steve Gold will become Deputy
Secretary of Administration.
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