Raimondo Makes Last Minute Appointment, Names New Head of COVID Response, McKee Not Informed

Raimondo Makes Last Minute Appointment, Names New Head of COVID Response, McKee Not Informed

Governor Gina Raimondo has made another last minute staff change — she shifted Rhode Island Department of Education staffer Tom McCarthy to serve as Executive Director of COVID Response at Rhode Island Department of Health. The appointment of Tom McCarthy caught Lt. Governor Dan McKee’s team unaware.

“Lt. Governor McKee was not involved with this decision,” said McKee transition team spokesperson Mike Trainor.

Last Friday afternoon, Raimondo made numerous appointments and staff changes in what are believed to be her final days as governor.

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In early January, Raimondo was nominated to be U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Joe Biden. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has placed a hold on Raimondo's nomination.

Multiple Rhode Island mayors have called for Raimondo to resign to allow McKee to begin governing.  

 

Worst Ranked for Response to Pandemic

Rhode Island's response to the pandemic is arguably the worst of any state in America.

The state is ranked third in the United States for cases per capita, fourth for deaths per capita, and 50th in the country for utilization of vaccines.

Prior to working at RIDE as Angélica Infante-Green’s chief of Staff, McCarthy worked for nearly two years at CVS in benefits management function and prior he served 12 years in the United States Army. He was paid $144,555.84 in his role at the Department of Education. 

McCarthy did not respond to a request for comment.