Tom Wolf Names Katie McGinty His Chief of Staff
Katie McGinty at a pre-election rally for Tom Wolf at Temple University. Photo | Jeff Fusco
Katie McGinty, an also-ran during the Democratic gubernatorial primaries earlier this year, has been named chief of staff in the new administration of Governor-elect Tom Wolf.
McGinty, 51, of Philadelphia will assist with Wolf’s transition plans. She played a key role in Wolf’s general election campaign, heading his adjunct organization, Campaign for a Fresh Start, after finishing fourth in the primary that he handily won.
Wolf and McGinty know the inner workings of the Capitol. He was secretary of the Department of Revenue for 19 months in 2008 and 2009; McGinty was head of the Department of Environmental Protection from 2003 to 2008. Their time in Rendell’s Cabinet briefly overlapped until Wolf departed in November 2008.
She brings the added advantage of Washington experience — something that could be critical because many state programs, from welfare to education, are intertwined with federal programs and funding. McGinty chaired the White House Council on Environmental Quality under President Clinton and was a legislative aide to former Sen. Al Gore, D-Tenn.
Wolf will be sworn in on Jan. 21.
