ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Gov. Larry Hogan has named Chris Shank to be his new chief legislative officer.
The governor made the announcement Monday. Shank is a former state senator from western Maryland who has been serving as deputy chief of staff in Hogan's administration. He played a leading role representing the governor's office in a bipartisan push to make reforms to Maryland's criminal justice system.
Shank will be filling a vacancy resulting from the departure of Joseph Getty, who was appointed by the Republican governor to the state's highest court.
The governor's chief legislative officer is basically the governor's lobbyist, who works to gain support among legislators for measures favored by the chief executive.
Tiffany Robinson, an assistant secretary within the Department of Housing and Community Development, has been named to replace Shank.