Governor’s Commission of Integrity and Public Confidence to Convene. (Not much left)

Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Commission on Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government will convene its second meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, November 14 in Senate Room 3 in the Capitol of Virginia.

Commission members will complete their work on proposals for strengthening rules for the ethical conduct of state officials. Governor McAuliffe has asked for interim recommendations byDecember 1 on ethics oversight and enforcement, limits on gifts and loans, rules on conflicts of interest, disclosure requirements and post-public service restrictions. The commission also will continue its discussion on redistricting reforms.

Former U.S. Representative Rick Boucher and former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, co-chairmen of the commission, encouraged Virginians to submit their comments and ideas for the panel’s consideration. The commission is seeking public input on its website, governor.virginia.gov/integrity-commission and via email sent to integrity@governor.virginia.gov.

A public forum on November 6 at the University of Virginia School of Law attracted speakers from Norfolk, Roanoke and Loudoun County as well as participants from Charlottesville and the surrounding region.

The Commission was established on September 25 by Executive Order 28, which instructed the 10 members to provide interim recommendations to the Governor by December 1, 2014 with the goal of pursuing legislation during the Virginia General Assembly’s 2015 session.

The other members of the commission are former Delegate Viola Baskerville, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Sharon Bulova, former President of the University of Virginia John T. Casteen III, President of Hampden-Sydney College Christopher Howard, Vice President for Advancement at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Susan A. Magill, attorney and former Assistant Attorney General Courtney M. Malveaux, former Delegate Joe T. May and former President and CEO of BB&T Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. John Sherman, Jr.

From a recent state legal document:

"Americans are not ruled by monarchies and dynasties, nor owe allegiance to a self-appointed few.  We are governed by ourselves.  We are a representative democracy, which entitles us to liberty, equality, free speech, a free press, protection of private property, privacy, and other inalienable rights.  American self-government began in Virginia, and it continues to thrive at the Capital today."

Now the question is, does anyone actually see the above statement in play in this state under governor Terry McAuliffe's direction?  What we have seen are extreme abuse of power by this governor in our opinion.  This guy has refused to uphold the state constitution and it looks like he is selling out every facet of the state to the highest bidders at every level and even using your tax dollars to fund massive corporate welfare programs all the while destroying small businesses.  

He is also working hard, in our opinion, at destroying property rights and personal liberties.  So do we see any integrity or have any confidence?  No!

Related articles

• Governor McAuliffe Announces First Meeting of Commission to Ensure Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government
• Governor McAuliffe Names 5 Members to Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners
• Governor McAuliffe Statement on U.S. District Court's Redistricting Ruling
• Governor McAuliffe Statement on 6th Senate District Election Results
• Governor McAuliffe Awards Extended School Year Planning and Start-Up Grants to 13 School Divisions
• Governor McAuliffe Statement on 33rd Senate District Election Results

Governor McAuliffe Announces Administration Appointments

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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 Commerce and Trade

Carlton “Ray” Davenport, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry

Carlton “Ray” Davenport previously served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Virginia AFL-CIO, one of two executive officers of the organization.  Prior to being elected an officer at the Virginia AFL-CIO, Ray served as Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry from 2002-2009 in Governor Mark Warner and Governor Tim Kaine’s administrations. He was responsible for general management/supervision of Virginia’s occupational safety & health state plan, enforcement of labor & employment laws, registered apprenticeship programs, and overseeing the certification and safe operation of commercial boilers and pressure vessels. Ray is a product of Virginia’s registered apprenticeship program graduating as a journeyman crane operator, and was later elected as business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 147.  He served 13 years as principal officer of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 147 as well as 7 years as President of the Virginia State Building and Construction Trades prior to being appointed as Virginia’s Commissioner of Labor & Industry. Ray holds a B.A. in Labor Studies from George Meany Center for Labor Studies/Antioch University and a M.S. from University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Lawrence D. “Larry” Wilder, Jr., Advisor for Social Entrepreneurism and Innovation of the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity

Lawrence D. “Larry” Wilder, Jr. previously served as Assistant Secretary of Education focusing on issues of charter schools, college laboratory schools, and financial literacy. Prior to that role, he was a Special Assistant for Reentry Education, working on the Governor’s Prisoner Reentry Initiative on issues of education, housing and workforce development. Larry has served as a consultant with Unisphere Development Strategies, which focused on economic development in low-income communities; Strategic Markets Director in the Los Angeles office of Urban America, an investment advisor and asset manager specializing in urban commercial and mixed-use real estate investment; and practiced law for 14 years with the law firm of Wilder & Gregory in Richmond. Additionally, Larry held a variety of finance and advisory positions including with the Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System, Jackson Securities, The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation, and Pacific Community Ventures. Larry also served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1992-1994. Larry earned both a B.A in Economics and a J.D. from the University of Virginia, and is a member of the Virginia State Bar. He also holds a M.B.A. from the University of Southern California.

Secretariat of Public Safety

Andrew K. Block, Jr., Director of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice

Block was an Associate Professor and Director of the Child Advocacy Clinic at the University of Virginia School of Law from 2010-2014.  From 1998 until the spring of 2010 he was the founder and Legal Director of the JustChildren Program of the Legal Aid Justice Center.  He started the program to meet the unaddressed legal needs of court-involved youth in the Charlottesville area. Over time the program expanded and included lawyers in Charlottesville, Richmond, and Petersburg, statewide policy advocacy for vulnerable young people, and training for judges, lawyers, child-serving professionals, and parents. Andy received various awards for his innovative and successful work at JustChildren, including the American Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division Child Advocacy Award, the Virginia State Bar’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year, the Virginia Bar Association’s Robert F. Shepherd, Jr. Award, and the Charlottesville Daily Progress Distinguished Dozen. Block graduated from Yale University in 1987 and from the Northwestern University School of Law in 1994.

Francine C. Ecker, Director of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services

Ecker was the Senior Policy Advisor for Strategic Planning for the National Criminal Justice Association, where she consulted with federal, state, and local government in the areas of criminal justice planning, evidence-based program development, and organizational management.  She previously served as a Division Director at the Department of Criminal Justice Services, where she was responsible for the Corrections, Juvenile, and Victim Services Sections of the agency, as well as for Department training activities. Ecker has over 25 years of management experience in state and local government.  Throughout her career in government service, and previous work as the Executive Director of a rural victim services program in the New River Valley, she has been instrumental in the design, development, and implementation of state and local criminal justice, prosecution, law enforcement, child welfare, and domestic and sexual violence grant programs.  She served for several years as a clinical consultant to a local community corrections program in Central Virginia. Ms. Ecker earned her B.S.W. in Social Welfare in 1978 and Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology in 1981 from Temple University.

Related articles

• Governor McAuliffe Unveils Spring Stewardship Virginia Campaign
• Governor McAuliffe, Mayor Sessoms Offer Bipartisan Support for Closing the Coverage Gap
• Governor McAuliffe Signs SB381 Transferring Homeland Security Responsibilities to the Secretary of Public Safety
• Virginia Partners with National Foundation for Governors' Fitness Councils to Bring Multi-Million Dollar Youth Fitness Campaign to Virginia
• Governor McAuliffe Statement on the Passing of Former State Senator Benjamin J. Lambert III
• Governor McAuliffe Announces $4.75 Million Funding For Water Project in Buchanan County

Governor McDonnell Announces Board Appointments and Additional Appointments to Administration

Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell  attribute to Gage Skidmore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Announces New Secretary of Education and New Secretary of Public Safety

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Javaid Siddiqi, Deputy Secretary of Education, will become Virginia’s next Secretary of Education following the departure of Secretary Laura Fornash, effective November 18^th.  He also announced that Bryan Rhode, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety, will become Virginia’s next Secretary of Public Safety following the departure of Secretary Marla Decker, effective November 1^st.  He also announced appointments to five Virginia boards and commissions.

Bios for today’s appointments can be found below.  Further announcements regarding additional appointments in the McDonnell administration will continue to be made in the months ahead.

Education

Javaid Siddiqi, Secretary of Education

Dr. Javaid Siddiqi was appointed in October of 2011 to serve as Deputy Secretary of Education, focusing his efforts on improving teacher quality and improving educational outcomes for all students.

Before joining the McDonnell administration, Siddiqi spent 12 years with Chesterfield County Public Schools.  During his time in Chesterfield, Siddiqi served as a high school teacher, assistant principal, and as principal of Robious Middle School where he led the implementation of Expeditionary Learning, a nationally recognized school reform model. 

Siddiqi received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, his masters degree from Virginia State University, and his doctorate in educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.  He is a native of Chesterfield and is a graduate of Virginia public schools.  He is married and has two children.

*Appointment effective November 18^th

Public Safety

Bryan Rhode, Secretary of Public Safety

Bryan Rhode was appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell as a Commissioner of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in April of 2012.  In January of 2013, Rhode was appointed by Governor McDonnell to his current position as Deputy Secretary of Public Safety. 

Rhode is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, the University of Virginia School of Law, and the London School of Economics. A former Captain in the United States Marine Corps, Rhode served four years on active duty as an infantry officer and deployed twice overseas. He served for nearly six years as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Richmond, where he worked with local, state and federal agencies to investigate and prosecute a wide variety of crime.  Prior to serving as a prosecutor, Rhode was an associate corporate attorney at Hunton & William, LLP. 

Engaged in the community, he serves on numerous professional and community boards and organizations, including the Goochland Free Clinic, the Goochland Rotary Club, and the Marine Corps League of Richmond. He was named to Style Weekly Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” in 2007.  Rhode and his wife Lynne live in Goochland with their two sons – Andrew and Bryan, Jr.

*Appointment Effective November 1^st

Board Appointments

Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers

·         J. Paul Welch, II of Warsaw, Owner/Manager of Welch Funeral Home

Board of Visitors to Mount Vernon

·         Glen Bolger of Alexandria, Survey Researcher for Public Opinion Strategies

·         Julie Dime of Alexandria, Partner at Principle Advantage, Ltd.

·         The Honorable Paul Clinton Harris, Sr. of Richmond, Senior Counsel for the Northrop Grumman Corporation

·         Mark A. Herzog of Richmond, Senior Vice President of Corporate and Government Affairs at Health Diagnostic Laboratory

Charitable Gaming Board

·         Nicholas S. Curry of Hopewell

Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

·         RADM David O. Anderson, USN (Ret.) of Virginia Beach

Virginia Latino Advisory Board

·         Joel Martinez of Glen Allen, Managing Vice President/HR Consulting with Capital One

·         J. Michael Martinez de Andino of Henrico, Partner with Hunton & Williams

·         Theresa Alvillar Speake of Alexandria, CEO of Speake Consulting Services

*Denotes re-appointment

Related articles

• Governor McDonnell Announces Board Appointments
• Governor Bob McDonnell Announces 95 Express Lanes Construction Reaches Mid-Point
• Governor Bob McDonnell Named "Public Infrastructure Official of the Year"
• Statement of Governor Bob McDonnell on the Retirement of Judge Larry Elder from the Court of Appeals of Virginia
• Governor McDonnell Announces 15.7 Percent Increase in Film Industry Employment in Virginia
• Governor McDonnell Announces $40 Million Investment in Henry County