It is now confirmation season in Harrisburg, when the State Senate reviews and approves nominees for the new Governor’s cabinet. Gov. Wolf’s first nominees were confirmed today by the senate. The four confirmed were Adjutant General James Joseph, Economic and Community Development Secretary Dennis Davin, General Services Secretary Curtis Topper and Transportation Secretary Leslie Richards. Secretary Richards is a strong ally to the LGBT community, as demonstrated through her work championing an LGBT non-discrimination ordinance in Whitemarsh Township in 2011 as a township supervisor.
On January 17th, only several days before his own swearing-in, Governor Tom Wolf announced his selection of Dr. Rachel Levine to be the next Physical General of Pennsylvania. He also shared that he will seat her on his cabinet, rather than have the state’s leading health policy advisor remain an auxiliary post.
Dr. Levine is a former professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. At Hershey, she developed the Division of Adolescent Medicine and Eating Disorders, where she was the chief up until her departure in January.
Acting Physician General Levine has been very busy this spring meeting with every state senator to discuss her expertise in healthcare and why she will be a successful Physician General. On April 7th, she signed a standing order for State Troopers and other first responders to carry the life-saving drug naloxone, known commercially as Narcan, which can prevent deaths from the overdose of heroin or other opioid drugs.
When confirmed, Physical General Levine would be the highest-ranking out official in Pennsylvania state government, and the first out LGBT person to be selected for the Governor’s cabinet.
Photo: Acting Physician General Levine signing the standing order providing naloxone to state troopers, in Manheim (Dan Marschka/LancasterOnline)