Former Governor and Attorney General Tom Corbett and GOP leader Bob Asher are among the Republican leaders Attorney General-elect Dave Sunday has named to his transition team.
“Over the past two weeks, I have appreciated the advice of Attorney General Michelle Henry, Gov. Josh Shapiro and former Gov. Tom Corbett, who as previous members of this office provided their insights into leading the attorney general’s office,” Sunday said. in a statement on Wednesday.
“Today, I am pleased to announce the team that will lead my transition to the position of Attorney General. During my campaign, I counted on the advice and support of these people. I will employ their experience as I prepare to run this office,” he said.
Sunday, who defeated Democrat Eugene DePasquale in this year’s attorney general election, also announced that his chief of staff will be a general counsel from the York County District Attorney’s Office.
Kyle King serves as chief administrator in the District Attorney’s Office and, as district attorney, led Sunday’s initiative to combat the opioid epidemic in York County.
“Kyle is one of the smartest and most reliable administrators I have ever worked with. He is a dedicated public servant and, as president of the York Opioid Collaborative, has helped our Commonwealth fight the opioid epidemic. “I am thrilled that he will join me in the Attorney General’s office as my chief of staff,” Sunday said in a statement.
Corbett served one term as Governor of Pennsylvania from 2011 to 2015 and a total of four years as Attorney General. He was appointed to fill former Attorney General Ernie Preate’s unexpired term after Preate went to prison in 1995 for laundering illegal campaign contributions from video poker operators. Corbett was elected attorney general in 2008 and oversaw a grand jury investigation into sexual abuse by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
Asher is a former member of the Republican National Committee and co-chairman of the board of directors of Asher’s Chocolates. In addition to being a key donor to Republican candidates, Asher served as an adviser to Pennsylvania governors and attorneys general.
Rounding out the transition team is unsuccessful GOP gubernatorial candidate and former Delaware County Councilman Dave White; real estate investment executive John Verbanac, who also serves as chairman of the University of Pittsburgh’s board of trustees and vice chairman of the UPMC board of directors; and public finance attorney and Secretary of the Pennsylvania Republican Party Liz Preate Havey, who is Preate’s daughter.
Sunday campaign manager Ryan DeMara and campaign consultant Ben Wren will serve as co-directors of the transition.
