As reported by the Associated Press, in the Herald-Leader:
HAZARD, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has been selected to be the 2011 states' co-chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Beshear announced his selection Wednesday in Hazard and also said Ben Hal would be the ARC economic development coordinator for Kentucky's Appalachian region. Hale is a former Floyd County judge-executive and adviser for the Department of Environmental Protection. He spent five years as assistant director of the Kentucky Appalachian Commission and two years in former Gov. Paul Patton's administration working on issues concerning eastern and northeastern Kentucky counties.
Beshear, who succeeds Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue as states' co-chairman, was elected by the 13 governors in the Appalachian region for a term that starts in January.
