Crowley Picks Former Evers Cabinet Member As Chief of Staff

Jeff Pertl. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor.

Gov.-elect David Crowley named Jeff Pertl, a former member of Gov. Tony Evers’ cabinet, as his chief of staff Wednesday.

From August 2024 until September this year, Pertl served as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. He is a former member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors and a former policy adviser in the office of the state superintendent for the Department of Public Instruction.

“Jeff Pertl brings an incredible depth of experience, a strong understanding of state government, and a deep commitment to serving Wisconsin families,” Crowley said in a statement. “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated the leadership, thoughtfulness and collaborative approach needed to tackle our state’s biggest challenges and deliver results for the people of Wisconsin.”

Pertl worked for Evers when he was the state superintendent. When Evers elevated him to a cabinet role in 2024, he said Pertl played a “valuable role” during his time leading DPI.

Crowley also named Thad Nation, a Democratic strategist and co-founder and senior partner of Nation Consulting, director of his transition committee. Nation consulted on Crowley’s previous campaigns for county executive. Nation previously worked as an aide to former Gov. Jim Doyle and the late former governor of Indiana, Frank O’Bannon.

Shortly after being elected, Crowley declined to comment on what specific legislation or policy he wanted to move forward as governor, instead stating he was focused on assembling a transition team. The team is now assembled, and it includes a dozen individuals with experience in politics, state and local government, business and activism.

Transition Committee

• Shirley Ellis, a former staffer for U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore
• Greg Wesley, president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation
• Alex Lasry, a former Milwaukee Bucks executive and Biden administration official who ran for U.S. Senate in 2022
• Marcus Lewis, a consultant and former faculty member at UW-Stevens Point
• Peng Her, co-founder of The Hmong Institute in Madison
• Nick Bauer, founder of the investment firm Operose and Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce board member
• Kathleen Rulka, a retired therapist and co-chair of the Wood County Democratic Party
• Alec Knutson, a lobbyist for Ascension Wisconsin who previously lobbied on behalf of Milwaukee County under Crowley
• Dan Terrio, a former county employee under Crowley and the director of the Milwaukee-area UW-Extension
• Awais Khaleel, former assistant corporation counsel for Dane County
• Mary Arnold, former mayor of Columbus, Wisconsin
• Maria Luisa Morales, a longtime immigrant rights advocate who formerly worked for Voces de la Frontera.