Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently announced multiple transitions to his leadership team, including his appointments of a new policy director, press secretary, and senior advisor.
Michael Hendrix, who currently serves as special advisor to Lee, will succeed Tony Niknejad as the governor’s new policy director, effective September 1. Hendrix was previously a senior fellow and the director of state and local policy at the Manhattan Institute, as well as the senior director for research and emerging issues at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation before joining the Lee Administration. Hendrix attended the College of William & Mary and is a graduate of the University of St. Andrews.
In addition, Elizabeth Lane Johnson was appointed to serve as Lee’s press secretary, effective August 14. Johnson currently serves as press secretary for Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and has previous work experience in broadcast journalism and service with Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Johnson graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in Communication and Information Sciences and a minor in Political Science.
Johnson succeeds Lee’s current press secretary Jade Byers, who will transition to serve as Lee’s senior communications officer. Byers has served in the Lee Administration since his primary run in 2018 and has held multiple positions, including deputy press secretary and the director of boards and commissions.
“Elizabeth’s significant media and communications experience will play a key role in our administration’s work to serve Tennesseans, and we welcome her to the team,” Lee said in a statement. “Jade is a dedicated public servant, and I am confident that she will continue to ensure that our key priorities and accomplishments are communicated effectively.”
I look forward to the continued service of Alec Richardson & Jade Byers, two longtime members of my staff, & welcome Elizabeth Lane Johnson to the team.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) August 4, 2023
Lee also announced a change to his cabinet, appointing Alec Richardson to serve as one of his senior advisors, in addition to his current role as the director of external affairs. Richardson earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee at Martin and has also served Lee since his primary run in 2018.
Lee’s staffing shakeup comes just two weeks before his planned special legislative session on “public safety” in the Tennessee General Assembly is scheduled to convene on August 21.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photos “Gov. Bill Lee” and “Tennessee Capitol” by Gov. Bill Lee.
I second all that has been said before me. However, I was hoping that the shakeup was Lee announcing his much needed resignation.
Yep, Ol` Bill has gone full RINO. That`s why I didn`t vote for him in the primary or the election.
Gov Lee has “thrown in” with the neo-Bolsheviks. They want to penalize and violate the rights of Tennessee citizens for what a murdering perp did—one the manifesto of which is kept secret and withheld in defiance of Tennessee open records law.
Gov Lee, READ AND OBEY the Tennessee Constitution Declaration of Rights to which you took an oath and CANCEL the legislative special session which is planned to VIOLATE those rights. That would be in accordance with your profession of the Christian Faith and the written Word of God which demands that a person keep an oath:
(Numbers 30:2)
Reject the collectivist secular religion of the neo-Bolsheviks which ignores the criminal murderer and imposes the guilt and punishment on the rights of the law abiding.
100 thousand laws to replace the 10 Commandments, isn’t gonna work.
The ill advised “special Session” is getting a makeover. Hold onto your wallets and stand by for enough spin to separate reality from fantasy and fiction.