Governor McAuliffe Statement on Campus Sexual Violence

Sex and Violence (album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND – I was deeply disturbed to read about the sexual assault allegations outlined in Rolling Stone magazine. Sexual violence is a nationwide problem, and it is critical that our schools acknowledge that this is a pervasive issue and take bold action to end it. 

Earlier today, I spoke to the university leadership and conveyed my deep concerns with what has been reported. We are in agreement that a full and fair investigation must be pursued, and I have called for a zero tolerance strategy to combat campus sexual assault. I have asked university officials to conduct a full review of all of their policies and procedures and if decided, to bring in outside experts to assist in this effort. 

We must also find ways that our local law enforcement and prosecution efforts can better align with university actions. Earlier this year, I signed Executive Order 25 establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Combating Campus Sexual Violence, sending a message that Virginia will not tolerate sexual violence on our campuses or in our communities. Now is the time to act — we must ensure that survivors are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, and we must do more to hold perpetrators accountable.

As the parents of five children, this is an issue Dorothy and I care deeply about.  I look forward to seeing strong recommendations from the task force that will help keep more Virginians safe and ensure that our students are free from the threat of sexual violence. 

(Never mind the fact that we promote sexual violence in every aspect of our society.  You are not supposed to act on what we teach you.)

{Anyone getting a kick out of the news source Terry McAuliffe uses?  Rolling Stones magazine?  Does he also get news from High Times magazine?}

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Administration Appointments

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RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced additional appointments to his administration today. The appointees will join McAuliffe’s administration focused on finding common ground with members of both parties on issues that will grow Virginia’s economy and create more jobs across the Commonwealth.

Secretariat of the Commonwealth

Board Appointments

Board of Trustees of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia

·       Emmett W. Toms, Jr.* of Waynesboro, Manager, VA State and Local Affairs, Dominion

Charitable Gaming Board

·       Tanya A. Conrad of Newport News, City of Newport News Law Enforcement and Member of the 192^nd Fighter Wing, The Virginia Air National Guard

·       Randy Green of Mechanicsville, Sales Manager for the State of Virginia, Lancaster Bingo Company

·       James Lewis of Alexandria, Communications Director, U.S. House of Representatives

·       Betty Ann Sword of Cedar Bluff, Retired

Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board

·       Julia Marsden of Burke, former Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Washington, DC division of Balmar Printing and Graphics

Governor’s Advisory Board on Volunteerism and National Service

·       Colonel Lettie J. Bien (USAR, RET) of Charlottesville

·       Jessica M. Bowser of Alexandria, Professional Educator and Advocate for Public Education

·       Richard A. Cabellos of Manassas, Director, County of Fairfax, Southgate Community Center, Reston

·       The Honorable John Taylor Chapman, City Councilman, City of Alexandria

·       Elizabeth B. Childress of Richmond, Government Affairs Specialist, Spotts Fain Consulting

·       Vanessa Diamond* of Richmond, Director HandsOn Greater Richmond

·       Mark Fero* of Ruther Glen, Programs and Public Safety Financial Manager, Office of the Attorney General of Virginia

·       The Honorable Terry C. Frye of Bristol, Commissioner of Revenue, City of Bristol

·       Peter J. Goldin of Richmond, Associate State Director, Federal Advocacy, AARP Virginia

·       Julie C. Grimes* of North Chesterfield, Communications Manager, Virginia Department of Education

·       Ashley W. Hall of Richmond, Director, Strategic Engagement, United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg

·       Eleanor Matthews of Winchester,  Senior at John Handley High School

·       Amy P. Nisenson of Manakin Sabot, Executive Director of The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation and non-profit consultant

·       Karen Kennedy Schultz, PhD of Winchester, Professor, Shenandoah University;  Director, The Center for Public Service and Scholarship

·       Seema Sethi, MPS, MBA of Fairfax, President and CEO of Society for Enrichment of Asians

·       Karen J. Stanley* of Chester, Chief Executive Officer CARITAS

·       Laurie S. Turner of Herndon, Public Affairs Director, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Washington, D.C.

·       James H. Underwood of Midlothian,  Business Manager, Local Union No. 666, IBEW 666

·       Leslie Van Horn* of Norfolk, Executive Director, Federation of Virginia Food Banks

Safety and Health Codes Board

·       Louis J. Cernak, Jr. of Clifton, Retired

·       John D. Fulton of Mechanicsville, President/Owner, E. McLauchlan & Sons, Inc.

·       Travis M. Parsons of Annandale, Senior Safety and Health Specialist, Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America

·       Daniel A. (Danny) Sutton* of Timberville, Live Production Manager – VA Division, George’s Family Farms, LLC

·       Thomas A. Thurston* of Sandston, International Staff Representative, Communications Workers of America

Virginia Board for People with Disabilities

·       Vicki Beatty of Richmond, Owner, Virginia Parent Advocates, LLC

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

·       Martin J. Barrington* of Manakin Sabot, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Altria Group, Inc.

·       Tyler Bishop of Richmond,  Senior Vice President, McGuire Woods Consulting

·       Louise B. Cochrane* of Richmond, Philanthropist

·       Ivan P. Jecklin, JD* of Richmond, Co-President, General Counsel, Weinstein Properties

·       Kenneth S. Johnson of Richmond, CEO of Johnson, Inc.

·       Pamela Reynolds of Richmond, Past Chair of the Board of Trustees, and stalwart supporter of cultural heritage in Richmond and the mid-Atlantic region.

*Denotes reappointment

Re Elect Mark Warner for US Senator For More.

This Ad Not Yet Paid For

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President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Christopher Hart – Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board
• John W. Leslie, Jr. – Member, Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation, and upon appointment to be designated Chairperson 

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Donald L. Pereira – Commissioner, United States Section of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission
• Douglas L. Stang – Commissioner, United States Section of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission 

President Obama said, “These fine public servants bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their new roles.  Our nation will be well-served by these individuals, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.” 

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Christopher Hart, Nominee for Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board

Christopher Hart is currently a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), where he has served since 2009.  He is also Vice Chairman of the NTSB, a position he held since October 2013 and previously from 2009 to 2013.  Prior to joining the NTSB, Mr. Hart was the Deputy Director for Air Traffic Safety Oversight at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from 2005 to 2009 and was the Assistant Administrator for System Safety at the FAA from 1995 to 2005.  From 1994 to 1995, Mr. Hart was Deputy Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  He was a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board from 1990 to 1993.  He was Managing Partner at Hart & Chavers from 1981 to 1990 and Associate Attorney at Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin from 1979 to 1981.  Mr. Hart served as the Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Environmental, Civil Rights, and General Law at the Department of Transportation from 1977 to 1979.  Mr. Hart was an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the Air Transport Association of America from 1976 to 1977 and an Associate Attorney at Peabody, Rivlin, Lambert & Meyers from 1973 to 1976.  He is a licensed pilot with commercial, multi-engine, and instrument ratings.  Mr. Hart received a B.S.E. and M.S. from Princeton University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. 

John W. Leslie, Jr., Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation, and upon appointment to be designated Chairperson

John W. Leslie, Jr. is currently Chairman of Weber Shandwick, a position he has held since 2001.  He has also served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation since 2003 and as its Chairperson since 2009.  From 1985 to 2001, Mr. Leslie was President of Bozell Sawyer Miller.  Previously, Mr. Leslie was Chairman of the Board of the United States Association for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and a participant in UNHCR Missions to Afghanistan in 1998, Kosovo in 1999, and Tanzania in 2001.  He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Chairman of the U.S. Agency for International Development Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid.  Mr. Leslie received a B.S. from Georgetown University.

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Dr. Donald L. Pereira, Appointee for Commissioner, United States Section of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Dr. Donald L. Pereira is Chief of the Section of Fisheries at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, a position he has held since 2013.  He has held various positions at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources since 1983, including Fisheries Research and Policy Manager, Fisheries Research Program Supervisor, and Senior Fisheries Research Biologist.  He was a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant at the University of Minnesota from 1987 to 1991.  Dr. Pereira joined the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission’s Council of Lake Committees in 2007, and served as its Vice Chairman from 2011 to 2013 before becoming Chairman.  He also served on the Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s Board of Technical Experts from 2009 to 2013.  Dr. Pereira received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Vermont and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Fisheries from the University of Minnesota, St. Paul.

Douglas L. Stang, Appointee for Commissioner, United States Section of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Douglas L. Stang is Assistant Director for Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, a position he has held since 2007.  He has held multiple positions at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation since 1985, including Chief of the Bureau of Fisheries, Supervising Aquatic Biologist, and Senior Aquatic Biologist.  Previously, he was a Research Associate at Iowa State University from 1982 to 1985 and a Graduate Research Assistant from 1980 to 1982.  Mr. Stang began his career as Fisheries Technician at the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries in 1978.  He is a Life Member of the American Fisheries Society and served as President of its Fisheries Administration Section from 2003 to 2005.  Mr. Stang received a B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and an M.S. in Fishery Biology from Iowa State University.

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Administration Appointments

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RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced additional appointments to his administration today. The appointees will join McAuliffe’s administration focused on finding common ground with members of both parties on issues that will grow Virginia’s economy and create more jobs across the Commonwealth

Office of the Governor

Ryan O’Toole, Special Assistant, Constituent Services

Ryan O'Toole worked previously in constituent services for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Richard Neal, and has spent the past two years working as a community organizer throughout Virginia.  He is a native of Washington, D.C., and holds a B.A. in Political Science from Fordham University.

Secretariat of Public Safety and Homeland Security

Ryant L. Washington, Special Policy Advisor for Law Enforcement, Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

Prior to joining the Administration, Ryant Washington served as Sheriff of Fluvanna County.  He has served in law enforcement since 1990 both as Deputy Sheriff and Virginia State Trooper.  His education and training includes a diploma in Business Administration from National Business College, studies at the Criminal Justice Program at Piedmont Virginia Community College, and completion of the Executive Management Training at the National Sheriffs’ Institute. Sheriff Washington is Past President of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, and he serves on the Board of Directors for the National Sheriffs’ Association. He is a member of the National Commission on Forensic Science and the Piedmont Virginia Community College Advisory Board. Sheriff Washington and his wife, Camilla, a registered nurse, have twin sons, Christopher and Nicholas.

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Governor McAuliffe Names 5 Members to Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners

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Today at a news conference in Norfolk, Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that he has named 5 Virginia business and transportation leaders to the Virginia Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners. The Governor has asked the incoming members, who will serve the unexpired terms of 5 previous members of the board, to act swiftly to improve the port’s fiscal management and return it to profitability.

“The Port of Virginia is one of the Commonwealth’s most important economic assets, and improving its performance is one of my top priorities,” said Governor McAuliffe. “This team of Virginia leaders has the right experience and vision to strengthen the Port financially and put it on the path toward long-term, sustainable growth.

“I know they are just as eager as I am to work alongside the dedicated men and women of the Port Virginia to make it stronger and better prepared to succeed in a 21^st Century economy.”

The new members of the Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners and their brief bio’s are below:

G. Robert Aston, Jr., Portsmouth

 The Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of TowneBank, which he founded in 1998,  Bob Aston is a professional banker with forty – nine years of successful leadership in community banks and a super regional bank, including twenty – nine years experience as  President and CEO. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of BB&T of Virginia from January 1995 to June 1998 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Commerce Bank from April 1985 to January 1995.  Mr. Aston began his career at Citizens Trust Company in 1964 and rose through the ranks to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1981 to 1985.

 Aston also has long record of community service which includes time as past Director of Virginia International Terminals, Inc. Currently, Aston serves on a host of boards and foundations in the community including as the President and Chairman of the Eastern Virginia Medical School Foundation and as a Fort Monroe Authority trustee. Aston is a graduate of the National Installment Lending School at the University of Oklahoma and the Graduate School of Retail Banking at the University of Virginia.

Alan Diamonstein, Newport News

Alan Diamonstein has an outstanding record as a former elected official representing the Virginia Peninsula for more than 30 years, and as an attorney and statewide leader for initiatives that have improved every community in the Commonwealth.

 As a partner in the Patten, Wornom, Hatten, Diamonstein law firm, he specializes in public policy issues and project finance, economic development law and real estate ventures. Major projects in which he has been involved include large commercial and retail properties, planned housing communities and the location and development of successful solid waste management facilities in the southern regions of the United States.

 He is a past member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, and has served as chairman of the internationally recognized Mariners’ Museum in Newport News.

 As a senior member of the Virginia House of Delegates, he served as the chairman of several key legislative committees, and was a budget conferee on the Appropriations Committee for many years. He is widely recognized for his support of Virginia’s college and university system and the housing industry. He served on several Presidential Commissions and led the Virginia Housing Study Commission for more than 20 years.

 He attended the University of Virginia, and, after completing a tour with the U.S. Air Force, received his B.S. degree in commerce. He earned his law degree at the University of Virginia Law School. He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Christopher Newport University and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the College of William and Mary.

 Gary T. McCollum, Virginia Beach

 Gary T. McCollum is the Senior Vice President and General Manager for Cox Communications. He was appointed to oversee all Cox operations in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia & Roanoke in February 2010.  Cox Virginia’s network reaches approximately 777,000 homes through the Commonwealth and has approximately 2,300 employees.

 Gary joined Cox Communications in 1989 as a manager trainee in Hartford, Connecticut, and was later promoted to a variety of management roles, including Plant Operations Manager, Director of Network Development, and Vice President of Customer Care.  Gary went on to serve as Vice President and General Manager for Cox’s Roanoke, Virginia cable system, spearheading efforts to bring the Information Superhighway to all segments of the community. In 2000, Gary was promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Cox’s newly acquired Northern Virginia system.  In 2006, Gary was promoted to lead the Cox Hampton Roads system and then led the consolidation of all locations into one Virginia operation.

 Prior to joining Cox, Gary served eight years on active duty as a military intelligence officer for the U.S. Army and is currently a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves.  During his active duty military career, he served with the elite U.S. Army Rangers.

 Born in a housing project in Richmond, VA, Gary was the first member of his family to graduate from college.   He graduated from James Madison University with a BA in Russian Studies and Political Science, and from the University of Connecticut with an MBA, where he concentrated on telecommunications. 

Val McWhorter, Fairfax

Val McWhorter is a founding partner of the Tysons  Corner based law firm of Smith, Patcher, McWhorter. McWhorter has focused his practice in the area of Construction law for 30 years. His practice has included representing contractors in large, complex claims arising under federal, state, and local government contracts, as well as contracts between private parties.  Mr. McWhorter has engaged in substantial litigation before various Federal Boards of Contract Appeals, Federal Courts and State Courts. He has also served as an advocate in the mediation of construction contract disputes before numerous mediators involving a wide variety of projects.

McWhorter served on the Commission on Higher Education Board Appointments under Governor Tim Kaine and on the State Council of Higher Education during the administration of Governor L. Douglas Wilder. He is also a former member of the George Mason University Board of Visitors.

McWhorter received his Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctorate from Washington & Lee University.

 John G. Milliken, Arlington

 Mr. John G. Milliken serves as a Partner with Venable LLP. In 2013, Milliken Co-Chaired Governor – Elect Terry McAuliffe’s Transition Committees on Commerce and Trade and Transportation.  Mr. Milliken served as the Director of Transition for former Governor Mark R. Warner.  He is a former Secretary of Transportation and formerly served on the  Board of Commissioners at Virginia Port Authority from 2002 – 2011. Milliken served on the Arlington County Board from 1981 -1990 and was the Chair in 1984. Milliken is also a former member of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

Milliken is a graduate of Haverford College and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law.

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