Bernard Out, Cowan In Amid Patrick Staff Shuffle

Gov. Deval Patrick is tapping his legal counsel to serve as his chief of staff amid a second-term staff shakeup.

William "Mo" Cowan will replace Arthur Bernard in overseeing the daily operation of the governor's office. Bernard took over the post two years ago from Doug Rubin, the governor's chief legal adviser.

The governor's recent campaign manager, Sydney Asbury, will also become deputy chief of staff, and Mark Reilly will move up from deputy counsel to replace Cowan as the governor's chief legal counsel.

In a statement Wednesday, Patrick also announced the departure of Cabinet secretary Liz Morningstar and Communications Director Kyle Sullivan.

The governor had asked all his Cabinet secretaries and senior staffers for their resignations as he assessed who had the energy and commitment for a second term.