Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today announced Robert “Bob” S. Kiss will join his administration as Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Revenue. Kiss’ appointment becomes effective July 1, 2013. In the interim, Jason Pizatella will serve as Acting Cabinet Secretary.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Bob during our tenure in the legislature together and know he will, once again, serve the people of West Virginia well in this new capacity,” Gov. Tomblin said. “With his extensive knowledge of tax law, experience as finance chair and then Speaker of the House of Delegates, Bob truly understands the intricate finances of state government and the importance of maintaining our State’s good fiscal standing for the people of West Virginia.”
Kiss represented Raleigh and Summers counties from 1989 to 2006 in the House and held several leadership positions including House Finance Chair from 1993 to 1996 and Speaker from 1997 to 2006. During his service in the House, Kiss was instrumental in major economic and fiscal legislation including state tax policy, workers’ compensation, PEIA and Medicaid, and the State’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) legislation.
Kiss is a 1979 graduate of Ohio State University who later earned his law degree from the University’s Law School. He most recently worked as partner at Bowles Rice Attorneys At Law in Charleston practicing in the areas of tax, estate planning and commercial law and is recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the areas of tax law, and trusts and estate law.
Kiss is married to Melinda Kiss and resides in Charleston, W.Va.
Gov. Tomblin has appointed Jason Pizatella as Acting Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Revenue effective immediately. Pizatella has been the Director of Legislative Affairs in the Governor’s Office since January 2011. Prior to joining the Tomblin Administration, Pizatella served as Deputy State Tax Commissioner and as counsel to the State Senate Committee on Government Organization and Committee on Finance. He will return to the Governor’s Office on July 1, 2013.
