Scott announced Al Gobeille’s selection as AHS secretary and Susanne Young as secretary of the Agency of Administration, as well as naming a director of communications, chief innovation officer, and director of affordability and economic growth initiatives.
Gobeille, 52, has served on the Green Mountain Care Board since it was established in 2011 and became chair in August 2013. He has worked closely with Gov. Peter Shumlin’s administration to negotiate the all-payer model.
Before his work in state government, Gobeille served on the Shelburne Selectboard. He and his spouse, Kim Gobeille, continue to run Gobeille Hospitality, a Burlington-based restaurant business with 230 employees that includes Shanty on the Shore.
“I love what I do right now, and I feel like if we really want to reform the health care system with a new governor, then … I think it’s better to do it, in this case, from inside the administration,” Gobeille said.
He said he does not belong to a political party but agrees with Scott’s vision to make Vermont more affordable. Additionally, he said, “Being concerned about the most vulnerable and taking care of them is something that he’s been clear about, and I support that.”
Gobeille’s term on the board is not scheduled to end until Sept. 30, 2018, but he will start the new position in the first week of January, when Scott is inaugurated. The new governor will need to appoint Gobeille’s replacement.
Young, 60, has worked more than 20 years at the attorney general’s office in various departments, including as a prosecutor in the Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit and as chief of the Criminal Division. At the attorney general’s office, Young has also provided legal services to the Department of Mental Health.
She served as legal counsel to Republican Gov. Jim Douglas between 2003 and 2011 and as a deputy state treasurer between 1999 and 2003.
Young said Tuesday that she had not worked directly with Scott before but that she came to know him in the Vermont Senate when she was serving under Douglas.
Asked how she would work to meet Scott’s promises to curtail spending to line up with economic growth, Young said she hadn’t yet discussed specific plans with Scott but that she would soon begin that work.
“My appointment was just announced, and it’s now time to start getting up to speed and bending the learning curve that I’m going to have vis-a-vis the current budget,” Young said. “I’ve got to get in there and roll up my sleeves and see how the departments are operating and find efficiencies that match the governor’s goals.”
Young expressed some nervousness about the future of federal funding for Vermont after the election of Donald Trump as president.
“Everybody is nervous at some level,” she said. “It’s wait and see.”
Young pointed out that she has worked for both Democrats and Republicans. “I’m about good government more than anything,” she said.
Young said she will remain in her role at the attorney general’s office for the next few weeks to help Attorney General-elect TJ Donovan transition into the office. Around the holidays, Young said, she expects to start work for Scott.
“My next few weeks are going to be very busy,” Young said with a laugh.
Scott also announced the appointment of three additional senior staffers to his leadership team.
Tayt Brooks, 41, will serve as director of affordability and economic initiatives. He spent five years as director of government affairs for the Homebuilders and Remodelers Association of Vermont. He has also worked in state government, serving as deputy commissioner and commissioner of economic, housing and community development.
He also founded the super PAC Vermonters First.
John Quinn, 37, will serve as chief innovation officer. His past work includes various information technology projects and government modernization initiatives, according to Scott spokesman Ethan Latour. Quinn currently is an information technology manager for the state of Vermont, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Rebecca Kelley, 34, will be Scott’s communications director, which includes developing and managing the administration’s public information systems. Her most recent public relations work involved advocacy for greater accessibility to cheaper Canadian prescription drugs, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Scott’s staffing announcements Tuesday come two weeks after a round of initial appointments, which included former Douglas communications chief Jason Gibbs topping the list as chief of staff.
