Gov. Wolf names new chief of staff

Gov. Tom Wolf announced today that his longtime chief of staff, Mary Isenhour, would be stepping down in order to become the senior adviser to the governor's re-election campaign.

"Mary has been with me since the beginning, and I am tremendously grateful to her for her service and loyalty," said Wolf in a prepared statement. "Mary's dedication to the people of Pennsylvania and to the governor's office are unmatched."

Isenhour, a Kansas native, has been a longtime player in Pennsylvania politics. In addition to working with Wolf, she has served as the executive director of the state Democratic Party and worked on the campaigns of US Sen. Bob Casey and Gov. Ed Rendell.

Mike Brunelle, who has served as Wolf’s executive deputy chief of staff since January 2016, was named as Isenhour’s replacement. Brunelle, who once served as the Democratic Whip in the New Hampshire General Court, was the executive director of the Service Employees International Union Pennsylvania State Council before joining the governor’s staff.

“I am truly honored and humbled to serve the governor in this new role" Brunelle said in a statement. "Gov. Wolf has taken a different approach for Pennsylvania by prioritizing important responsibilities like protecting our seniors, making sure children receive the education they deserve, working with law enforcement and medical professionals to battle the opioid and heroin epidemic, and rebuilding Pennsylvania's middle class by putting more people to work. I look forward to working on his behalf, and with Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly, to make additional progress on these goals.”