2 Utahns still aiding Leavitt

Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt brought along a few familiar faces to his new job as head of the huge federal Health and Human Services Department.

Leavitt on Monday formally named six people to his senior staff at the Department of Health and Human Services, including two Utahns who worked with him at Utah's Capitol.

Rich McKeown will once again serve as Leavitt's chief of staff. McKeown served in the same capacity while Leavitt served as governor and as secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency. McKeown also was a commissioner at the Utah State Tax Commission.

Leavitt also appointed Natalie Gochnour as a counselor to advise him on communication and policy matters. Leavitt and Gochnour have worked together since 1993.

Gochnour served as associate administrator for public affairs during Leavitt's EPA administration. She also served in multiple roles while Leavitt was Utah's governor, including posts as the director of policy and communications, state planning coordinator and deputy director of the Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget.