Correction commissioner to take role as special assistant to governor

By Matt Bittle
Posted 6/4/21

DOVER — Another shake-up in the governor’s Cabinet is coming.

Gov. John Carney announced Friday that he has named Correction Commissioner Claire DeMatteis as his special assistant to oversee federal COVID-19-relief funding and “crisis management projects across state government.” The position of special assistant is not part of the governor’s formal Cabinet and does not require Senate confirmation.

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Correction commissioner to take role as special assistant to governor

Posted

DOVER — Another shake-up in the governor’s Cabinet is coming.

Gov. John Carney announced Friday that he has named Correction Commissioner Claire DeMatteis as his special assistant to oversee federal COVID-19-relief funding and “crisis management projects across state government.” The position of special assistant is not part of the governor’s formal Cabinet and does not require Senate confirmation.

In her stead, the governor has nominated Deputy Correction Commissioner Monroe Hudson Jr. Mr. Hudson, the agency’s second-in-command since 2019, previously spent 31 years with the Delaware State Police, including time as the deputy superintendent.

Additionally, Gov. Carney will nominate Jacqueline Mette, his deputy legal counsel, as the next alcohol beverage control commissioner. Current Commissioner John Cordrey is retiring after 20 years in office.

The Senate is expected to consider the nominations of Mr. Hudson and Ms. Mette on June 23.

Prior to being named chief of the Department of Correction in 2019, Ms. DeMatteis served as a special assistant to the governor working to reform the correctional system, following a 2017 inmate uprising at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, near Smyrna.

“These are all committed public servants who I’m confident will serve Delaware well,” Gov. Carney said in a statement. “Together, they have decades of experience in and around state government, and I want to thank them for their willingness to continue serving. I also want to congratulate Jack Cordrey on his well-deserved retirement, and I look forward to the Senate considering our nominees.”

On the heels of the director of the Delaware State Housing Authority announcing last week that he is leaving to join Delaware State University, the DOC change represents the 12th alteration in the makeup of Gov. Carney’s Cabinet since he took office in 2017. That tally does not include the creation of the Department of Human Resources or the elimination of the Delaware Economic Development Office.

Only five of the original 15 Cabinet selections remain in office (again, not counting DHR or DEDO).

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