Randy Boyd exits Haslam cabinet; will seek ‘ways to best serve our state’
News release from the governor’s office
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD) Commissioner Randy Boyd will return to the private sector February 1, serving as chairman of Radio Systems Corp., the business he started in 1991.
During Boyd’s two-year tenure as commissioner, the state has been recognized as first in the nation for advanced industry job growth, first in foreign direct investment, and second in the growth of household median incomes. ECD has also set several records and generated nearly 50,000 new job commitments and nearly $11 billion in capital investment in the state.
Boyd joined the administration in 2013 as a special advisor to the governor for higher education, helping create the state’s Drive to 55 initiative, the Tennessee Promise and Reconnect programs and other initiatives to increase the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary degree or certificate to 55 percent by 2025.
Black Caucus urges Haslam to diversify cabinet
The legislature’s Black Caucus is urging Gov. Bill Haslam to diversify his cabinet and offering to help him find qualified appointees. At one point, Haslam had three black cabinet members, but all have resigned – the last being Human Services Commissioner Raquel Hatter.
News release from Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Representative Brenda Gilmore, Chair of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators, has sent a letter to Governor Bill Haslam calling on him to diversify his cabinet.
With the announcement of Commissioner Raquel Hatter’s forthcoming departure, it will leave the Haslam 20+ member cabinet with only one commissioner who is not white and none who are African American.
“The leadership of the cabinet should be diverse and reflect the broad range of all that Tennessee has to offer. This is not only about diversity. It is also about making sure that the very best and most skilled individuals are in service in state government,” said Rep. Brenda Gilmore.
“The Tennessee Black Caucus believes that it is not possible that the Governor has the best talent available, if he has no African Americans in his cabinet,” said Gilmore.
Former Haslam cabinet member reported in line to become ambassador to Japan
President-elect Donald Trump is expected to name Tennessee businessman William Hagerty, according to media reports – initially from the Japanese news service Nikkei. Hagerty, previously the state’s commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, has recently been working on Trump’s transition team.
The Tennessee native joined Trump’s transition team in the summer and now serves as director of presidential appointments. Hagerty previously spent three years in Tokyo while with Boston Consulting Group. He went on to co-found private equity firm Hagerty Peterson after starting his career in the field at Trident Capital.
Hagerty’s business success makes him a natural fit for the Trump team. He has close links to the Republican Party establishment, having served in the George H.W. Bush White House as a policy adviser and as a member of Mitt Romney’s campaign for president in 2012.
Note: He also journeyed to Japan as ECD commissioner on a trade mission with Gov. Bill Haslam. He’s been mentioned as a prospective candidate for governor in 2018. Serving as ambassador to Japan would presumably make such a run unlikely.
David Gerregano named state revenue commissioner
News release from the governor’s office
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced David Gerregano as commissioner of the Department of Revenue effective Dec. 3.
A 19-year veteran of the department, Gerregano, 46, is currently deputy commissioner, and he will replace Commissioner Richard Roberts, whose departure was announced earlier this month.
As deputy commissioner since 2011, Gerregano has helped oversee various departmental functions, including the audit division, enforcement and taxpayer services. Since starting with the department in 1997 as tax counsel, he has held multiple legal and legislative positions such as administrative hearing officer, general counsel and assistant commissioner.
Roberts exits as state revenue commissioner
News release from the governor’s office
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced the departure of Department of Revenue Commissioner Richard Roberts who will leave the administration December 2.
Roberts has served as commissioner since 2011. Under his leadership, the department adopted several systems and procedures that have improved services to citizens and businesses, including an updated tax registration and reporting system and a motor vehicle and title registration system. The department also reduced a prior backlog of tax-letter rulings, started a program to identify tax underreporting and underpayment of taxes, and promoted and encouraged electronic tax filing to increase efficiency and promote cost savings.
