Patrick Announces New Appointments

Today Governor Deval Patrick announced several high-level appointments to his leadership team. Here are some of the highlights:

• Angelo McLain of ValueOptions New Jersey replaces Harry Spence as the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services.
• Elin Howe formerly of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and currently at the Columbus Organization replaces Gerald Morrissey as the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Retardation
• Richard Sullivan, the Mayor of Westfield, replaces Stephen Burrington as the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
• Laura M. Marlin from the Attorney General's office replaces acting Commissioner Ernest Kelley at the Division of Occupational Safety.

The Governor also made seven other appointments, both to fill positions he created in his cabinet re-organization and to replace holdovers from the past 16 years of Republican administrations. Despite the breathless claims of GOP operatives and anonymous sources, none of the appointments came from the legislature.

Update: Here's the rundown from the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe.