First Lady now on W.Va. Board of Ed

Another Manchin has entered the ranks of the executive branch after Gov. Joe Manchin appointed his wife, First Lady Gayle Manchin, to the state school board.

The Associated Press has a story, as does MetroNews.

MetroNews notes that the First Lady has said she will not accept a paycheck for that post.

AP observes that in addition to the First Couple, son Joseph Manchin IV was appointed to the West Virginia Tourism Commission in August 2005, while cousin Mark Anthony Manchin was tapped to be executive director of the West Virginia School Building Authority in November.

The Senate confirmed the SBA appointment during the regular session. The governor picked his wife to the school board three days after the end of the session.

I believe there also may be another cousin serving somewhere within the governor's office.

UPDATE: There's also cousin and Delegate Tim Manchin, D-Marion, who was appointed by the governor's predecessor upon the 2003 death of A. James Manchin, the former (impeached) state treasurer and the governor's uncle.

Tuesday's appointment follows the governor's strong showing in a recent power rankings analysis that included appointment ability among its factors.