A former reporter and news anchor will serve as the public information officer for the Finance and Administration Cabinet.

Valeria Cummings, who worked at Lexington-based WKYT-TV from 1984 to 2005, was named to the position by Finance Secretary Jonathan Miller.

"I'm very excited about moving into state government and working for Governor Beshear and his administration," said Cummings in a release today. "Governor Beshear has a lot of things planned for the future and I'm glad I'll be a part of what I see as some positive changes for all of Kentucky."

Cummings is an Ohio native who attended the University of Alabama. Prior to her new position, she served in the communications department with Kentucky American Water.

She began work today, filling the vacancy created after former Finance PIO Jill Midkiff moved up to Governor Steve Beshear's (D-Lexington) office to work as his Director of Communications.