Thomas, Cashen named deputy state labor commissioners

Published 6:23 am Friday, January 16, 2015

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Joe Thomas, a former Democratic state senator from Fairbanks, has been named a deputy commissioner of the state labor department.

Thomas’ appointment was announced by the department Thursday, along with that of Greg Cashen, also as a deputy commissioner.

Thomas has a labor background, including work as a labor leader in Fairbanks. He was elected to the state Senate in 2006. He lost a re-election bid in 2012.

Cashen most recently served as administrative services director for the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. He is a former assistant commissioner in the labor department and former executive director of the Alaska Workforce Investment Board.