Stitt expands transition team
Jill Castilla, president and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond, will join Gov.elect Kevin Stitt's transition team, along with several other business leaders and government officials.
Stitt's office also announced chairs for seven policy advisory committees that will help shape his platform as governor.
"We are excited for the talented Oklahomans who continue to join Oklahoma’s Turnaround,” Stitt said in a Tuesday release, which included a list of new team members. “We are ending politics as usual because of the Oklahomans who are willing to step forward and give their valuable time to assist with recruitment and with developing bold policy directives for the 2019 Legislative session.”
Nine transition team members were named last week, led by Marc Nuttle, a Norman attorney with decades of experience in national Republican politics.
Tuesday's announcement doubled the team with nine new members. In addition to Castilla, the transition team includes Rita Aragon, former Oklahoma secretary of Veterans Affairs; Blayne Arthur, executive director of the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation; Michelle Choquette, chief human resources officer at Gateway Mortgage Group, a Tulsa-based company founded by Stitt; Amy Emerson, a Tulsabased pediatrician; Brian Hill, CEO of Works24; Fred Mendoza, an Oklahoma City-based business and civic leader; Gene McKown, co-owner of Ideal Homes; and Monte Tucker, a fourth-generation farmer and rancher from Sweetwater.
The transition team is working to fill some of Stitt's senior staff positions, with some hiring announcements expected next week, according to Stitt's office.
Stitt also announced leaders of seven committees focused on drafting policies related to education, economic growth, government efficiency, infrastructure, health, public safety and Native American partnerships.
Lt. Gov.-elect Matt Pinnell will chair the economic growth committee.