State Representative Carlo Basile, an East Boston Democrat with close ties to House leadership, has accepted a top post in Governor-elect Charlie Baker’s administration, sources familiar with the move said.
As chief secretary, Basile would handle appointments to boards and commissions, a prominent responsibility as state government girds for massive turnover in personnel. After eight years under a Democrat, Governor Deval Patrick, the state will have its first GOP chief executive since Mitt Romney.
Basile, 43, is also expected to act as a top liaison to his current colleagues in the Legislature, where he has been a popular figure since taking office in 2007.
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In naming a chief secretary, Baker is reviving a position vestigial from previous GOP administrations, including that of William Weld, Baker’s political mentor and former boss. One of Weld’s chief secretaries, Marty Linsky, once described the job as revolving around “politics and personnel — a.k.a. ‘patronage.’ ”
Baker has appointed other Democrats to senior administration posts, including his chief of staff, Steven Kadish, and top economic and housing adviser, Jay Ash. Basile is the second current House member Baker has tapped; Republican state Representative Matt Beaton is Baker’s pick for secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Jim O’Sullivan can be reached at jim.osullivan@globe.com.