Press Release: Attorney General-Elect Yost Announces Deputy AG for Law Enforcement, State Solicitor and Key Administrative Staff

COLUMBUS (Jan. 2, 2019) – Attorney General-elect Dave Yost today announced the appointment of his deputy attorney general for law enforcement, state solicitor, director of external affairs, chief information officer, and human resources chief and labor counsel. Yost previously announced appointments to several other top legal, management and operations positions. Information on those individuals can be found here.

“As we continue to add highly qualified and talented professionals to our incoming team, Ohioans can be assured the attorney general’s office will defend their interests, protect their rights and serve them with honor, transparency and dignity,” said Yost. “I am proud of what we have to offer the people of Ohio, and can’t wait to hit the ground running on January 14.”

Carol O’Brien will be deputy attorney general for law enforcement. She currently serves as the Delaware County Prosecutor. O’Brien was previously an assistant attorney general, where she served as chief counsel of the Ohio Organized Crime Commission and principal attorney with the corrections litigation section. O’Brien was also a special prosecutor within the Ohio attorney general’s office and a former assistant Franklin County Prosecutor.

Ben Flowers will be state solicitor. He currently serves as an appellate litigator at Jones Day. Flowers has represented clients in appellate courts throughout the country—including the Ohio Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States—in cases involving a broad array of legal issues. Flowers also served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and Ninth Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta.  

Carrie Bartunek will be director of external affairs and senior policy advisor. Bartunek currently serves as Auditor Yost’s senior policy advisor for external affairs. She previously served as Auditor Yost’s communications director. Bartunek has held senior communication positions within the administration of Columbus Mayor Buck Rinehart, and Hilliard City Schools. 

Mark Edwards will be chief information officer. He previously served as the CIO for the Ohio Department of Commerce. Edwards has also held several leadership positions within the Ohio attorney general’s office and information technology departments.

Meredith Rockwell will be chief of human resources and labor counsel. She currently serves as general counsel and chief administrative officer for Ohio Treasurer of State Josh Mandel. Rockwell previously worked as a regulatory policy advocate for Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and an attorney for the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. 

Yost will be sworn in as Ohio’s 51st attorney general on Monday, January 14. He currently serves as Auditor of State. Yost served for eight years as the Delaware County Prosecutor, winning the first capital murder case in the county’s history and taking down the county’s largest drug ring. He is also a former county auditor, city council member and award-winning journalist.

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