RALEIGH, N.C. — A number of senior aides from outgoing North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s administration have decided to join the team of incoming Governor Josh Stein, who is also a Democrat. Among those continuing in their roles are two Cabinet secretaries and the state’s budget director, all of whom will retain their current positions.
On Tuesday, Governor-elect Stein announced six key appointments that included Public Safety Secretary Eddie Buffaloe, Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins, and State Budget Director Kristin Walker. This announcement came shortly after Stein revealed his decisions for several other high-ranking positions, bringing the total to 13 appointments within a single day.
Earlier in the week, Stein confirmed that two other current department secretaries from Cooper’s team would take on different roles under his governance—specifically, Pam Cashwell as the administration secretary and Reid Wilson as the secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Having completed eight years as attorney general, Stein was elected governor last month and is anticipated to take the oath of office early in the new year, culminating in a public inauguration set for January 11 in downtown Raleigh.
The three officials—Buffaloe, Hopkins, and Walker—have played pivotal roles in handling the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which caused expansive flooding and damage across the state. Hopkins, who joined as transportation secretary in 2023, boasts over three decades of experience in this field. He has been notably in the spotlight since Helene caused severe damage to extensive stretches of roadways and bridges, leading his department to initiate repairs. Although Stein indicated that he might not stay in this role for an extended period, he expressed appreciation for Hopkins’ willingness to assist.
Stein stated, “I am grateful to Secretary Hopkins for agreeing to stay in an interim role to help make sure we safely get people back on the road as quickly as possible.”
Buffaloe previously held the position of police chief in Elizabeth City and has a robust background in various law enforcement agencies and the National Guard in North Carolina. The public safety department under his purview encompasses juveniles, emergency management, and the National Guard. Stein highlighted the necessity for Buffaloe’s reliable leadership as the state works on recovery from Hurricane Helene’s devastation.
Walker, who became the first woman to serve as North Carolina’s budget director in 2022, has been instrumental in advocating for the budget allocations requested by Cooper in response to the disaster. She is in charge of the Office of State Budget and Management, the entity responsible for crafting the governor’s budget proposals and enforcing spending regulations as determined by the legislature.
In his announcements on Tuesday, Stein also appointed Lee Lilley, a long-time lobbyist and aide for Cooper, as the commerce secretary. Meanwhile, Staci Meyer, the present deputy chief of Wilson, will step into the role of state human resources director. In addition, Teena Piccione, who comes from a background in renowned organizations such as Google, RTI International, and Fidelity Investments, has been selected as Secretary of the Department of Information Technology.
Most members of Stein’s Cabinet, with the exception of the budget director and human resources director, must go through the confirmation process in the Senate; however, it’s currently uncertain whether Buffalo and Hopkins will also need confirmation, given that both were already approved by the Senate as appointees of Cooper. Meyer has held a significant number of roles in the state’s governance, including a position as a special deputy attorney general and with the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Lilley previously served as Cooper’s director for economic and pandemic recovery, as well as legislative affairs, a role critical to one of the state’s chief economic recruitment positions.