McDonnell adds staff to transition team

RICHMOND, Va. -- Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell's transition team today announced additional placements from the gubernatorial campaign staff.

He tapped Janet Polarek as deputy director for personnel and administration, and Eric Finkbeiner as director of policy.

Earlier this week, McDonnell named his campaign manager, Phil Cox, as transition director.

Polarek served as chief operations officer during the gubernatorial campaign and managed McDonnell's 2005 campaign for attorney general. She also served as director of administration for McDonnell when he was attorney general.

Finkbeiner is an attorney who served under Gov. George Allen before joining McGuireWoods Consulting. He was also the stand-in for McDonnell's Democratic opponent, R. Creigh Deeds, in debate preparation.

Melissa Laughner, policy director for McDonnell's campaign, and Mike Reynold, deputy campaign manager, will both become assistant directors for policy in the transition. Jasen Eige, who served as chief of staff and counsel in the office of the attorney general under McDonnell, will act as counsel.

The staff is temporarily assembled in modest quarters on the second floor of the Ninth Street Office Building across from the state Capitol. They expect to release more names in the coming weeks.