Louisiana Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is holding a news conference Monday afternoon where he is expected to name a new member to his staff.
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Dardenne, a Republican, and Edwards, a Democrat, were rivals in the gubernatorial primaries.
Dardenne said, “I’ve got a working understanding, perhaps more than most, on the budget and what you have to do to balance a budget, what you have to do to set priorities”. “We didn’t have that discussion at all”, Dardenne said. Gov.-Elect Edwards announced that current Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne will serve as Commissioner of Administraion and Kimberly Robinson will serve as Secretary of the Department of Revenue.
The governor-elect said he will make more cabinet appointments this week.
“He’ll be able to draw on that knowledge his very first day”, Edwards said.
Edwards promised an administration that is diverse.
The two men reiterated no deal was cut for Dardenne’s endorsement.
“This is a critical time for the state of Louisiana”, she said.
Speculation has swirled that Dardenne would be picked to serve in the commissioner’s role.
A few legislators thought Dardenne would opt for a easier job where he could avoid tough policy decisions, like secretary of Louisiana Economic Development.
“I feel my background has prepared me for this”, Dardenne said.
Edwards previously announced that state Sen.
A former state senator, Dardenne walks into the position leading the Division of Administration with experience in helping to craft state budgets.
Edwards also named Kimberly Robinson as secretary of revenue.
Still, Dardenne’s independence has not always won him friends within Republican circles, particularly among conservatives.
The commissioner works as the governor’s top budget adviser, the public face of an administration’s financial negotiations and the overseer of the day-to-day operations of state government.
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Edwards said Monday that no time will be wasted in tackling the budget crisis of hundreds of millions of dollars.
