Also nominates Secretary of Revenue

Governor-elect Tom Corbett continued filling out his cabinet with two new nominations Monday.

Mr. Corbett nominated Carol Aichele for the post of Secretary of the Commonwealth and Dan Meuser as Secretary of Revenue. Both must be confirmed by the state Senate.

“I am pleased that this group of high-caliber professionals is joining my administration,” said Mr. Corbett in a statement. “I look forward to working with them as we tackle the challenges facing Pennsylvania.

If confirmed, Ms. Aichele will lead the Department of State, which is charged with handling business and professional licensing, maintaining registration for charities and overseeing the state’s electoral process.

Carol Aichele

Ms. Aichele currently serves on the Chester County Board of Commissioners and was previously the first woman to be elected Chester County Controller.

Last year, Ms. Aichele was a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, but she dropped out more than two months before the primary election. Jim Cawley, the party’s endorsed candidate, won the primary election and will be sworn in on Jan. 18 as Mr. Corbett’s second-in-command.

Mr. Cawley and Ms. Aichele have more in common than simply being former political opponents. Both have close ties to Saul Ewing LLP, a highly politically-connected Philadelphia law firm.

Ms. Aichele is married to Stephen Aichele, chairman of the Saul Ewing firm. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Cawley was a special counsel for the Saul Ewing firm.

Saul Ewing LLP donated more than $42,000 to Mr. Corbett’s gubernatorial campaign over the last two years, according to Department of State records. During the same time frame, Ms. Aichele and her political committee gave another $18,000 to Mr. Corbett’s campaign.

Mr. Corbett’s other nominee announced Monday also gave considerably to his campaign.

Dan Meuser

If confirmed, Mr. Meuser will lead the Department of Revenue, which is responsible for collecting all statewide taxes, as well as local sales tax for Philadelphia and Allegheny counties. The department also runs the Pennsylvania State Lottery, licenses distributors and manufacturers of small games of chance and prepares the tax expenditure portion of the state budget.

Mr. Meuser is a former president of Pride Mobility Products Corporation, an international retailer of mobility products for the disabled. He was president of the company from 2001 until 2008 but continues to serve the firm as a board member and consultant.

Over the last two years, Mr. Meuser donated more than $76,000 to Mr. Corbett’s gubernatorial campaign, according to Department of State records.

Mr. Corbett also named George White as chief information officer Monday. The position does not require confirmation by the state Senate.

Mr. White currently serves as Chief Information Officer for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General where he is responsible for developing and implementing the office’s overall information technology strategy and oversees all of the office’s information technology functions and operations.