Some of Wellesley's Best Named to Baker's Transition Team

Several Wellesley residents have been named to Gov.-elect Charlie Baker’s transition team.

On Thursday, Baker, of Swampscott, named dozens of members to his transition team, with specific teams focusing on jobs, schools, communities, health and better government.

John Sivolella, Columbia University, of Wellesley was chosen to serve on his better government team.

Sivolella is an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University, where he earned his Ph.D in political science (American politics). His dissertation was called “Do Politics Matter to This Watchdog? The Effects of Ideology on Civil Enforcement at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission,” according to his bio on Columbia University’s page.

He researches presidential power, public law, federal courts and U.S. federal agencies. Sivolella also helped found the political science department at Columbia’s academic advisory program for undergraduates. He got his J.D. from New York University School of Law.

Several Wellesley residents were chosen to serve on the jobs and economy team.

Michael Heffernan, the former candidate for treasurer, joins other Wellesley residents Brian Kavoogian of Charles River Realty Investors, Vincent DeVito of Bowditch and Dewey, and Gregory Ciongoli of the Baupost Group.

Lorraine Levine, the director of development at Women’s Lunch Place, was picked to serve on Baker’s Community Team.

And on Baker’s Health Team is Scott Bock, who is Riverside Community Care’s president and CEO, and apparently a blues music aficionado.