Selected State Administrative Officials: Methods of Selection

Chief administrative official or agency in charge of function:
(a-1) Lieutenant governor.
(a-2) Secretary of state.
(a-3) Attorney general.
(a-4) Treasurer.
(a-5) Adjutant general
(a-6) Administration.
(a-7) Agriculture
(a-8) Auditor
(a-9) Banking
(a-10) Budget.
(a-11) Civil rights
(a-12) Commerce.
(a-13) Community affairs.
(a-14) Comptroller.
(a-15) Consumer affairs.
(a-16) Corrections
(a-17) Economic development.
(a-18) Education (chief state school officer).
(a-19) Election administration
(a-20) Emergency management
(a-21) Employment Services
(a-22) Energy.
( a-23) Environmental protection.
(a-24) Finance.
(a-25) Fish and wildlife
(a-26 ) General services.
(a-27) Health
(a-28) Higher education
(a-29) Highways.
(a-30) Information systems
(a-31) Insurance
(a-32) Labor.
(a-33) Licensing
(a-34) Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities
(a-35) Natural resources.
(a-36) Parks and recreation.
(a-37) Personnel.
(a-38) Planning
(a-39) Post audit.
(a-40) Pre-audit.
(a-41) Public library development
(a-42) Public utility regulation.
(a-43) Purchasing.
(a-44) Revenue.
(a-45) Social services.
(a-46) Solid waste management
(a-47) State police
(a-48) Tourism.
(a-49) Transportation.
(a-50) Welfare.

California – Health – Responsibilities shared between Director of Health Care Services, Michelle Baass (GS) and Director, Department of Public Health, Tomas Aragon (N/A).

California – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between Director of State Hospitals, Stephanie Clendenin (GS) and Director of Developmental Services, Nancy A. Bargmann, (GS).

Connecticut – Fish and Wildlife – Responsibilities shared between Chief of Wildlife, (CS), Director of Inland and Marine Fisheries, (CS).

Connecticut – Higher Education – Responsibilities shared between Executive Director of the Connecticut Office of Higher Education, (GE) and Board of Regents President, (BG).

Connecticut – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between Commissioner of Mental Health, (GE) and Commissioner, Dept. of Developmental Services, (GE).

Delaware – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between Director, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (CG); and Director, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, same department (CG).

Delaware – Social Services – Responsibilities shared between Secretary of Health and Social Services (GS); and Secretary , Department of Services of Children, Youth and their Families (GS).

Florida – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between Assistant Secretary for Substance Abuse & Mental Health (A); and Director, Agency for Persons with Disabilities (GS).

Hawaii – Administration – the functions are divided amongst the Director of Budget and Finance, Director of Human Resources Development, and the Comptroller.

Hawaii – Finance – Responsibilities shared between Director of Budget and Finance, (GS) and the Comptroller, (GS).

Idaho – Responsibilities are shared between seven (7) directors all chosen by (B).

Indiana – Election Administration -Responsibilities shared between co-directors. Method of selection not reported.

Kansas – Emergency management – Responsibilities shared between Adjutant General (GS) and Deputy Director (C)

Maryland – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between Executive Director, Mental Hygiene Administration (A); and Secretary, Department of Disabilities (A).

Massachusetts – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between Commissioner, Department of Developmental Disabilities (CG); and Commissioner, Department of Mental Health, Executive Office of Human Services (CG).

Michigan – Election Administration – Responsibilities shared between Secretary of State, (CE); and Director of Elections (CS).

Michigan – Fish and Wildlife – Responsibilities shared between Director, Chief of Fisheries, (CS) and Chief of Wildlife, (CS).

Minnesota – Public Utility Regulation – Responsibilities shared between the five Public Utility Commissioners (G).

Missouri – Fish and Wildlife -Responsibilities shared between administrator, Division of Fisheries, Department of Conservation; administrator, Division of Wildlife, same department (AB).

Nevada – Election Administration -Responsibilities shared between Secretary of State (CE), Deputy Secretary of State (SS), Chief Deputy, Secretary of State (SS).

Nevada – Health – Responsibilities shared between Director of Health and Human Services (G) and Division Administrator, Health (A).

Nevada – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between Director of Health and Human Services (G) and Division Administrator, MHDS (G).

Nevada – Public Library – Responsibilities shared between Director, Dept. of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (G) and Division Administrator of Library and Archives (A).

Nevada – Welfare – Responsibilities shared between Director of Health and Human Services (G) and Division Administrator, Welfare and Support Services (G).

New Jersey – General Services – Responsibilities shared between director, Division of Purchase and Property, Dept. of Treasury (GS), and director, Division of Property Management and Construction, Dept. of the Treasury (A).

New Jersey – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between director, Division of Mental Health Services, Dept. of Human Services (A) and assistant commissioner, Division of Developmental Disabilities, Dept. of Human Services (A).

New Jersey – Social Services – commissioner , Dept. of Human Services (GS) and commissioner Dept. Of Children and Families (GS).

New York – Elections Administration – Responsibilities shared between Board of Election members. Two co-chairs and two commissioners. (B)

New York – Licensing – Responsibilities shared between secretary of state (GS) and commissioner of State Education Department (B).

New York – Mental health & developmental disabilities – Responsibilities shared between commissioner, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (GS) and commissioner, Office of Mental Health (GS).

Ohio – Finance – Responsibilities shared between assistant director, Office of Budget and Management (A) and deputy director same office (A).

Ohio – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between director, Dept. of Developmental Disabilities (GS) and director, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. (GS).

Ohio – Social Services – Responsibilities shared between director, OH Dept. of Job and Family Services (GS), superintendent of public instruction, Dept. of Education (B), executive director of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (B), director of Dept. of Aging (GS).

Oklahoma – Public Utility Regulation – Responsibilities shared between director of administration, Public Utility Division, Corporation Commission (B); and 3 commissioners, Corporation Commission (SE).

Pennsylvania – Shared between executive director (Fish) (B) and executive director (Game) (B).

Pennsylvania – Shared between deputy secretary (mental health) (AG) and deputy secretary (developmental) (AG).

Rhode Island – Higher Education – This employee serves in a dual role as Commissioner of Higher Education and as the President of the Community College of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island – Social Services – This position is filled by two employees: Commissioner , Office of Health and Human Services and Director of Human Services. Both (GS).

South Carolina – Environmental Protection – Responsibilities shared between director, Dept. of Health & Environmental Control and director, Dept. of Natural Resources, both (BS).

South Carolina -Health – Responsibilities shared between director, Dept. of Health and Human Services (GS) and director, Dept. of Health & Environmental Control (BS).

South Carolina – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between director of disabilities and special needs (B) and director of mental health (B).

South Dakota – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilites – Responsibilities shared between diretor, Dept. of Human Services and division chief, Div. of Behavioral Health, both (GS).

Texas – Election Administration – Responsibilities shared between secretary of state (G); and division director, Elections Division, (A).

Virginia – Public Utility Regulation – No single position. Functions are shared between Energy Regulation and Utility and Railroad Safety, both (B).

Wyoming – Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities – Responsibilities shared between director, State Hospital (AG) and director, Life Resource Center, (AG).

The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation is a quasi-public agency.

In Maine, New Hampshire, Tennessee and West Virginia, the presidents (or speakers) of the senate are next in line of succession to the governorship. In Tennessee and West Virginia, the speaker of the senate bears the statutory title of lieutenant governor.

The authority is a public corporation of the state and a body corporate and politic constituting a political subdivision within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, but with separate and independent legal existence.

The New Jersey State constitution states: “The State Auditor shall be appointed by the Senate and General Assembly in joint meeting for a term of five years and until his successor shall be appointed and qualify.” So it is a Constitutional Officer, but is appointed, not elected by the legislature.

Solid waste is managed by the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RRIRRC). Although not a department of the state government, RRIRRC is a public corporation and a component of the state of Rhode Island for financial reporting purposes. To be financially self-sufficient, the agency earns revenue through the sale of recyclable products, methane gas royalties and fees for it services.