CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Considerable changes to House staff leadership are underway, as announced earlier this week by House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay,
Among the changes announced is the succession of Dan Greear in the position of House Counsel by J. Robert Leslie, who recently served in a director position with the West Virginia Office of Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division. In addition to his time spent as Director of the Civil Rights Division, Leslie has also been responsible for strategic planning, as well as management of legal staff and legislative teams as Senior Deputy Attorney General.
This experience is supplemented further still by time spent practicing law privately, as well as serving as circuit judge of the 29th Judicial Circuit. Greear will continue to fill his role as House Counsel until May 5, at which point he will assume a new position as a judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, to which he has been appointed.
Also announced was the assumption of the Deputy House Counsel role by Charles Roskovensky. Roskovensky, an attorney with the West Virginia House of Delegates for nearly two decades, will be utilizing his vast experience not only to take on new challenges as Deputy House Counsel, but will also continue to serve the Committee on Health and Human Resources as Chief Counsel.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to elevate Charlie to a more prominent role here in the House,” Hanshaw declared. “He has been looked to for years as a leader among our current staff attorneys, and Charlie’s years of experience, sound judgment and his institutional knowledge make him ideally suited for this expanded role.”
Roskovensky will not be the only one taking on an additional workload, however. House Chief of Staff Jeff Billings, who Hanshaw refers to as “indispensable,” will undoubtedly be keeping busy, as he retains his Chief of Staff duties while advising Hanshaw. Billings will also be advising state lawmakers, in addition to maintaining responsibility for necessary preparations for sessions on the House floor.
Further illustrating the marked versatility of the team is House Communications Director Ann Ali, who will be taking on the additional challenges and responsibilities presented by the role of Deputy Chief of Staff. Hanshaw reserved high praise for Ali and her accomplishments as House Communications Director, stating,
“In her two years with us here in the House, Ann has demonstrated not only her exceptional skills as Communications Director but also a commitment to the body, its members and our work that far exceeds those duties.”