President Obama Nominates Earl F. Gohl to Serve as ARC Federal Co-Chair November 2009

On November 16, 2009, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Earl F. Gohl Jr. to serve as federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission. As reported on the White House Web site, Gohl has 20 years of experience in Pennsylvania state and local government, having served in positions including executive assistant to the mayor of Harrisburg; elected member of the Harrisburg City Council; and deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs. As deputy secretary, Gohl awarded and administered $100 million annually in housing and community development programs benefiting communities within the Appalachian Region. He also managed several initiatives to strengthen the capacity of rural local governments to meet economic challenges. In 1996 Gohl was appointed to serve as special assistant and then associate assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.

The nomination (PN1182-111) was received in the Senate on November 17 and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.