LANSING – Norm Saari has been

appointed by Governor Rick Snyderto the Public Service Commission and will no longer serve as the House Speaker Kevin Cotter‘s

chief of staff, with Brock Swartzle taking over that post.

“Norm has had a distinguished

career in the utility industry as well as in public service, and he brings

decades of experience to the Michigan Public Service Commission,” Snyder

said in a statement on Saari’s appointment. “He will fairly and

objectively help our state achieve its goal of an energy supply that is

reliable, affordable, and protects our environment while safeguarding our

consumers.”

Swartzle is also general counsel for

the House and was previously the executive director of the House Republican

Policy Office.

“Brock has played a leading

part in many of our top achievements in the House in recent years, and he has

shown the dedication and commitment needed to help us keep Michigan’s comeback

going strong,” Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) said in a statement. “Norm

has done an incredible job for us, and I know Brock is the right pick to keep

us moving forward.”

Swartzle lives in Okemos and spent

two years as the Republican majority legal counsel. He also served as the

general counsel since 2013. Prior to that, he was a partner at Honigman Miller

Schwartz and Cohn, and he served as a senior law clerk for Judge David McKeague

of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“I appreciate the opportunity

I’ve had to play a role in Michigan’s ongoing success story,” Swartzle

said. “This is a chance for me to take on a new role, fill an important

need and do everything I can to help make Michigan a better place to live, work

and raise a family.”

Saari, of East Lansing, represents

Republicans at the PSC and replaces Greg White, who is retiring. He will serve

a six-year term beginning August 2, 2015, and expiring July 2, 2021. His

appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Saari served as former House Speaker

Jase Bolger’s chief of staff, succeeding Suzanne Miller Allen after she

departed, and continued in the post for Cotter. Before that, he was the

appointments manager for Snyder.

Before joining Snyder’s

administration, Saari was chief of staff to former Sen. Jason Allen. He has a

long history on utility issues, having worked in the government affairs offices

in both Lansing and Washington for Consumers Energy for more than 30 years.

This story was published by Gongwer News Service. To

subscribe, click on www.gongwer.com