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Wolf taps 2 more for cabinet posts

HARRISBURG - Gov.-elect Tom Wolf has named two government policy veterans to top posts in his administration. Wolf on Thursday selected former Philadelphia prosecutor and attorney Denise Smyler to run his office of general counsel and former secretary of State Pedro Cortez to return to that cabinet office.

HARRISBURG - Gov.-elect Tom Wolf has named two government policy veterans to top posts in his administration.

Wolf on Thursday selected former Philadelphia prosecutor and attorney Denise Smyler to run his office of general counsel and former secretary of State Pedro Cortez to return to that cabinet office.

Cortes, 48, of Harrisburg, served as secretary of state under Gov. Rendell between 2003 and 2010 and is credited with modernizing voting systems in the state.

Smyler, 62 of Philadelphia, was a Philadelphia assistant district attorney and former chief legal counsel to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Neal.

Wolf said both individuals will be assets to his administration.

"Denise has a long record of excellence and experience working with multiple levels of government, and Pedro vastly improved operations at the Department of State during his previous tenure," he said.

Smyler was the first woman counsel to the Philadelphia police department. Cortes was the first confirmed Latino cabinet member and the longest serving secretary of state in Pennsylvania history.

Both must be confirmed by a majority of the Senate.

Earlier this week Wolf announced his nominee for Secretary of Revenue, Eileen McNulty, and Secretary of the Department of Consumer and Economic Development, Dennis Davin.

Wolf still has more than 15 cabinet posts to fill. He takes office on Jan. 20.

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