McDonnell names three to cabinet-level posts

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell has appointed lieutenant governor Bill Bolling his administration's new jobs czar and made it a position in his cabinet.

McDonnell also appointed retired Fortune 500 CEO Bob Sledd to be his commerce secretary and named longtime aide and adviser Janet Polarek Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Bolling's new title won't mean a raise in his $36,321-a-year state salary, though.

The appointment puts Bolling and former Performance Food Group chairman Sledd in charge of McDonnell's primary campaign theme of creating new jobs in Virginia.

It also comes with McDonnell's pledge that either he or Bolling would visit economically hard-hit Southside Virginia every 30 days.

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Virginia's Lieutenant Governor is about to become much busier.

Bill Bolling will serve in the cabinet of Governor-elect Bob McDonnell, as the state's Chief Jobs Creation Officer.

At a news conference Thursday morning, McDonnell said Bolling will coordinate economic development and job creation, and lead efforts to recruit new businesses to Virginia, without any additional compensation.

McDonnell also announced two other cabinet level appointments: Richmond area businessman Robert Sledd as Secretary of Commerce and Trade, and longtime aide Janet Polarek as Secretary of the Commonwealth.