3 appointed to Chafee's transition team

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island Gov.-elect Lincoln Chafee is beefing up his transition team.

Chafee has named three new members to the team: John Simmons, head of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council; Claire Richards, a former special counsel to outgoing Gov. Don Carcieri, and Margaret Holland McDuff, who heads Family Services of Rhode Island.

Chafee said in a statement that the trio "has a vast array of knowledge" on the workings of state government, private business and non-profit organizations in Rhode Island.

Chafee earlier named Providence attorney Patrick Rogers to chair the transition committee and Steve Hourahan, who worked for Chafee when he was a U.S. senator, to direct the team.