Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Wednesday the appointment of Butch Eley as deputy to the governor. Eley will continue serving in his current role as commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration (F&A) and as a member of Lee’s cabinet, according to a press release by Lee’s office.
The position of deputy governor was previously held by Lang Wiseman who has returned to the private sector, the press release notes.
“For the past three years, Butch has played a pivotal role in our strong economic recovery and in maintaining Tennessee’s reputation for conservative fiscal management,” Governor Lee said in a statement. “His extensive public and private sector experience will continue to add enormous value as we invest strategically in infrastructure, education and other priorities to serve Tennesseans and support our state’s growth.”
For the past three years, Butch has played a pivotal role in our strong economic recovery & in maintaining TN’s reputation for conservative fiscal management. https://t.co/vpxLzRPvsx
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) February 9, 2022
As deputy to the governor, Eley will assist the governor in his day-to-day duties and act as a liaison between the governor’s office, the legislature, and the various departments and agencies in state government.
Eley, a graduate of Belmont University, previously served as a chief operating officer in the governor’s office from January 2019 to May 2020, where he led the state’s first four-year strategic planning process, as noted in the press release.
In his subsequent appointment as commissioner of finance and administration, he developed multiple state budgets and works closely with legislative leaders of the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group (FSAG) to oversee and allocate the influx of federal relief funds provided to Tennessee over the past two years.
Prior to joining the Lee administration, Eley was the founder and CEO of Infrastructure Corporation of America (ICA). Headquartered in Nashville, ICA was one of the nation’s leading infrastructure asset maintenance management companies, with comprehensive asset management contracts throughout the country, the press release notes.
On Twitter, Tennessee State Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston) applauded Eley’s appointment, saying, “@ButchEley has the work ethic, temperament and public/private sector experience to be a great Deputy Governor. He will work well with @tnsenate. @GovBillLee has made a wise choice. Congratulations, Mr Deputy Governor!”
@ButchEley has the work ethic, temperment and public/private sector experience to be a great Deputy Govenor. He will work well with @tnsenate . @GovBillLee has made a wise choice Congratulations, Mr Deputy Governor! https://t.co/v8zicYLmVd
— Ken Yager (@YagerTweets) February 9, 2022
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Butch Eley” by Department of Finance & Administration. Photo “Bill Lee” by Gov. Bill Lee. Background Photo “Tennessee State Capitol” by Ron Cogswell. CC BY 2.0.
Political payback for voting the governor’s way on several issues.
Randall – Sure enough. More churning of the well-healed elitists that Lee just loves.