Governor-elect Edwards pieces together more of his cabinet

BATON ROUGE - A former congressman, a term-limited lawmaker and the current state police superintendent are among Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards' latest cabinet appointments.

Edwards Wednesday named former U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon as secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and term-limited state Rep. Karen St. Germain as commissioner of the Office of Motor Vehicles.

Col. Mike Edmonson will remain Louisiana's state police leader.

Edwards' pick for economic development secretary is Don Pierson, who currently works as senior director of business development for the agency.

The governor-elect tapped Shawn Wilson to be secretary of the transportation department. Wilson has been chief of staff to three different transportation secretaries over the past decade.

For his chief lawyer, Edwards selected Matthew Block, a Thibodaux attorney who has been in private practice for 17 years.