AP Wire

Gov. Edwards fills out remaining cabinet positions

by The Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's new governor has filled most of his remaining cabinet spots.

Gov. John Bel Edwards named Marketa Garner Walters to lead the Department of Children and Family Services, the social services agency, and Thomas Harris to head the Department of Natural Resources.

Walters was an assistance secretary in the social services department under former Gov. Kathleen Blanco and most recently ran a consulting firm dealing with family issues and disaster planning.

Harris currently works for the natural resources department as administrator of its technology assessment division.

Also announced Friday: Former Attorney General Richard Ieyoub will become the governor's commissioner of conservation, a position of key importance to the regulation of oil and gas in Louisiana; and former state Sen. Noble Ellington will work as Edwards' chief legislative lobbyist.