BATON ROUGE, La. — Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a statement on Executive Counsel Matthew Block's exceptional service to the state of Louisiana.

Gov. Edwards said:

“This is truly bittersweet for me and our team. Matthew has been a crucial member of my senior staff since I first became Governor.  He has had a hand in every accomplishment and every bit of the tremendous progress we have made in moving Louisiana forward since 2016. Seven years ago, he made a commitment to serve our state and he has done so honorably and with the heart of a true public servant. Now, after countless late nights, working on weekends through natural disasters, a global pandemic, and more legislative sessions than we could have ever expected, I am happy that he is taking some time for himself and his lovely family back home in Thibodaux. He will be dearly missed. Donna and I wish him and his family the absolute best. Luckily, no one is better prepared to fill the role of Executive Counsel than Tina Vanichchagorn, who has been working side-by-side with Matthew, myself, and Chief of Staff Mark Cooper for years as our Special Counsel. I’m confident that our good work will continue.”