Governor-elect Chet Culver today named the co-chair of his campaign as the chair of his transition team. Bonnie Campbell, a former Iowa Attorney General and Democratic Party chair, will lead the transition planners. Culver says the transition office is already set up. Culver says the phones and computers are all hooked up, people are working and he says they anticipate a smooth transition.
Culver says they have a lot of things for the transition team to work on. Culver says the list of things to do is long and “It’s a phase that’s very critical to setting up your team.” Culver didn’t give a timeline for making appointments to various positions in his administration. Culver says they’ll do everything they can to have many of the decisions made by mid-January, but he says they’ll take the time to be sure they have the key people in place.
Culver’s predecessor, Tom Vilsack filed papers to run for president today, and Culver was asked if he’ll endorse Vilsack. Culver says he wishes Vilsack the best, but says he is 100-percent focused on the job at hand, and says the caucuses in 2008 are a long way off. Culver’s support as a democrat could be key by the time the caucuses roll around, and Culver says he may have more to say down the road.
Culver says he looks forward to coming back and having something to say on politics in the future, but is now looking forward to a smooth transition. Several of the others named to Culver’s transition team served under him in the Secretary of State’s Office, including his First Deputy Secretary of State, Charlie Krogmeier.