FRANKFORT — Gov. Paul Patton promoted commissioners of two high-profile agencies to his Cabinet Thursday, appointing Ishmon Burks justice secretary and Janie Miller public protection secretary.

        Mr. Burks has been commissioner of the Kentucky State Police since 2000. As Justice Cabinet secretary, he succeeds Robert F. Stephens, a former Kentucky chief justice who died this month.

        Ms. Miller was appointed state insurance commissioner in early 2001. Her appointment as Public Protection Cabinet secretary comes one day after her predecessor, Ron McCloud, resigned amid revelations he used state equipment to produce campaign letters.

        Mr. Burks and Ms. Miller will retain their roles as commissioners of state police and the insurance department, respectively, Mr. Patton said.

        His search was influenced by the timing of the vacancies, Mr. Patton said.

        With less than two years left in office, the governor said, it would be difficult to lure someone from the private sector to take the Cabinet posts. So he looked within government.

        “We didn't have to look very far, and it didn't take us very long,” he said.

        Mr. Patton also said he didn't want to hire Cabinet secretaries who needed a “long learning curve.”

        The governor noted that his office had worked extensively with Mr. Burks and Ms. Miller.

        “We know their strengths, we know their administrative skills,” he said. “It really was not a hard decision-making process.”

        Crit Luallen, secretary of Mr. Patton's Cabinet, said Mr. Burks and Ms. Miller are well regarded by the General Assembly.

        “These folks will be able to step right into the role of secretary without a moment's hesitation,” she said.

        The governor said he had no agenda for change in either Cabinet.

        Mr. Burks said he wanted to steer the Justice Cabinet in the direction set by his predecessor.

        “We have a road map that Justice Stephens has provided us, and we'll continue to move in that direction,” Mr. Burks said.

        As justice secretary, Mr. Burks will be responsible for a number of agencies, including state police, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Medical Examiner's Office.

        Mr. Burks, a Louisville native, is a retired Army colonel. He was the first black appointed as commissioner of the state police.

        Ms. Miller said she didn't have any significant changes in mind at Public Protection. She noted that the Cabinet focuses on protecting consumers.

        The Public Protection Cabinet includes the departments of insurance, alcoholic beverage control, charitable gaming, mines and minerals as well as the Kentucky Racing Commission and the Public Service Commission.

        Ms. Miller has almost 24 years experience in developing and administering health care programs in the public and private sectors.

        Both Mr. Burks and Ms. Miller begin their new jobs immediately.

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