Posted by
Ron Devito on Friday, July 10, 2009 6:42:54 AM
Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell on
[July 9, 2009] announced his cabinet and senior leadership team. [Lt.
Gov.] Parnell will bring [Gov.] Palin’s top advisers with him when he
takes the oath of office July 26th (Transition, 2009, ¶1).
“I
promised a seamless and steady transition,” [Lt. Gov.] Parnell said.
“These folks know what they’re doing. They’ve moved our state forward.
That’s why I’ve asked them to stay”(Transition, 2009, ¶2)
[His] cabinet will include (Transition, 2009, ¶3):
Commissioner of Administration, Annette Kreitzer
Commissioner of Commerce, Emil Notti
Commissioner of Corrections, Joe Schmidt
Commissioner of Education and Early Development, Larry LeDoux
Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, Larry Hartig
Commissioner of Fish and Game, Denby Lloyd
Commissioner of Health and Social Services, Bill Hogan
Commissioner of Labor, Click Bishop
Commissioner of Natural Resources, Tom Irwin
Commissioner of Public Safety, Joe Masters
Commissioner of Revenue, Patrick Galvin
Commissioner of Transportation, Leo von Scheben
Attorney General Dan Sullivan
Department
of Military and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Lieutenant General Craig
Campbell has been designated to become Lieutenant Governor and a new
Adjutant General will be named in the future (Transition, 2009, ¶4).
“Lieutenant
Governor Parnell has earned our trust and respect by being a strong
leader behind the scenes,” said DEC Commissioner Larry Hartig. “Now the
rest of Alaska will get a closer look at the competence we’ve known all
along” (Transition, 2009, ¶5).
In addition, Chief of Staff Mike
Nizich, Deputy Chief of Staff Randy Ruaro, Office of Management and
Budget Director Karen Rehfeld, and Legislative Liaison Jerry Gallagher
have all agreed to stay with the Parnell administration (Transition,
2009, ¶6).
“I am very pleased that this experienced and
committed group of public servants has agreed to continue their good
work for Alaskans,” [Lt. Gov] Parnell said (Transition, 2009, ¶7).
Commentary
Lt.
Governor Sean Parnell is on the same page as Governor Palin. The major
accomplishment item for both parties has to do with leadership. The
blog editor has referenced Transformational Leadership in numerous
entries pertaining to Governor Palin. The steps she has followed on her
job mirror those outlined by John Kotter in his Eight-Step
Transformation (Change Management) Process. Those steps are:
- Increase Urgency
- Build the Guiding Team
- Get the Vision Right
- Communicate for Buy-in
- Empowering Action
- Create Short-Term Wins
- Do Not Let Up
- Make Change Stick
(Transformation Process, 2008).
This
release by Lt. Governor Parnell is the result of Governor Palin's
excellent following of steps 2 and 8. She built a team 100% aligned
with her vision. She purged from her midst anyone who could undermine
her in any way, shape or form. Critics routinely lambaste her as
"cruel," but these purges are crucial element to any effective
Transformational Leader.
Step 8 specifically says "develop the
means to ensure leadership development and succession," It's one step
few leaders get right and in most cases, the change they've worked so
hard to achieve unravels. Not Governor Palin. She executed this step
perfectly! This is why her resignation move was brilliant and why her
critics are in such an uproar over it. Her agenda will be fulfilled,
simulatenously Governor Palin's critics will no longer be able to use
her as their punching bag. She out-maneuvered every last one of them.
Every
element of the Palin administration will remain intact following the
elevation of Lt. Governor Parnell to Governor. His style and
personality may be much different from hers, but the mission, vision,
strategy, and tactics remain the same. The Palin administration will
live on through the Parnell administration and only a fool would also
not recognize that she is only a phone call away.
100-Percent Leadership Stand by Parnell. (2009, July 9). State of Alaska, Lieutenant Governor. Retrieved July 10, 2009 from: http://www.ltgov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=4261
John Kotter's Transformation Process. (2008, December 12). US Army Business Transformation Knowledge Center. Retrieved July 10, 2009 from: http://www.army.mil/ArmyBTKC/enablers/cm/model3.htm