FRANKFORT,
Ky. (AP) — Eric Friedlander, who has led Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health
and Family Services during the coronavirus pandemic, has accepted the
job on a permanent basis, Gov. Andy Beshear said.

Friedlander
was hired as acting secretary of the vast state agency at the start of
Beshear’s term last December. He was offered the job as permanent
secretary on Sunday, the governor said.

“He has more than earned the full-time job,” Beshear said during his coronavirus briefing Monday.

Friedlander has been a constant presence at the governor’s daily briefings, and has stepped to the podium to give frequent updates as the state deals with the public health crisis.

“He
has done a phenomenal job,” Beshear said. “He has shown grace in times
of great difficulty. And he’s the exact type of person that I want to
have, not only for this situation, but as we move beyond it.”

Friedlander
brings the “right mix” to the job, including his command of complex
issues ranging from Medicaid to the foster care system, the governor
said. He also praised Friedlander for the empathy he shows — “to still
care, at his core, about every single individual that we serve.”

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