Showing posts with label William J. Howell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William J. Howell. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Governor McAuliffe Statement on the Supreme Court of Virginia

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe issued the following statement on the legislature’s failure to elect a Justice to the Supreme Court of Virginia:

“I am shocked and saddened that Republican leaders denied a sitting Supreme Court Justice a hearing, even as she sat at her desk, across the street from today’s Joint Courts of Justice meeting, continuing to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. This is not the Virginia way to treat anyone, let alone an outstanding female jurist. Republicans have yet to raise a single concern about Justice Roush’s legal skills or her integrity. Indeed, they have repeatedly acknowledged that her qualifications are unmatched.
“Republican leaders ultimately were incapable of electing anyone, leaving the state’s highest court in a state of uncertainty. It is disgraceful that Republicans have turned a serious decision affecting Virginia’s entire judicial system into an embarrassing partisan circus. I call on lawmakers to return to Virginia’s time-honored traditions for electing judges. I ask that they walk across the street and invite Justice Roush to a new hearing, one that is open and fair, and gives this highly qualified judge the respect she is due.

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Governor McAuliffe Launches Statewide Virtual Datathon Challenge


~ Teams from across Virginia will create new and innovative applications ~
(Or, How to get people to work for free)

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe today launched the 2015 Virtual Datathon Challenge, a competition that will bring together teams of innovators from across the Commonwealth to create new applications that improve government

“We can’t have an innovative new Virginia economy without an innovative government,” said Governor McAuliffe. “That’s why last year my administration launched Virginia’s first ever open data portal, and why last September we brought together state agencies to build brand new apps from scratch. This year, I’m challenging innovators across Virginia to use our state data in creative ways that will encourage collaboration and transparency within our government, enhance the services we provide our citizens, and build on our state’s reputation for innovative, efficient and customer-oriented government.”

Virginia Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson continued, “This Virtual Challenge will give all Virginians the opportunity to use data and technology to improve their government and how it serves their communities.  Apps are changing lives; we are seeing a movement where longstanding challenges are being solved by technology solutions developed by a growing population of civic coders. We want Virginia to lead the way.”

The Virtual Challenge winner will advance to the final round of competition at the statewide competition where they will compete for the Governor’s Cup.

For more information and competition registration, please visit data.virginia.gov.  To join the big data conversation, follow @DataVirginia and #TechInVA.


Friday, June 27, 2014

Governor McAuliffe announces more than $8.5 million in Community Development Block Grant funding

United States Department of Housing and Urban ...
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Seal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Projects include housing rehabilitation, downtown revitalization and water and sewer service -
RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced more than $8.5 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for 13 projects in Virginia.
“The Community Development Block Grant program is a long-standing program that provides necessary resources to our localities to improve their communities,” said Governor McAuliffe.  “From sewer projects to downtown revitalization and housing rehabilitation, these projects are improving the lives of Virginians across the Commonwealth.”
Since 1982, the federally-funded CDBG program has been administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and Virginia receives approximately $17 million annually for this grant program. CDBG grants are awarded through a competitive process. Most projects benefit low- and moderate-income persons, and many projects are targeted for the prevention or elimination of slums and blighting conditions.
Five of the projects are noted as multi-year funding projects. Multi-year funding projects are those that will receive a contract allocating a portion of the funds this year, and after achieving specific performance targets, the project will then be eligible for additional funding. One additional project is receiving a letter of intent, indication the project is worthy of funding but lacks key components necessary for the project to be immediately implemented. This allows the locality to address the missing key component by spring 2015.
“This competitive program allows Virginia to address major community issues and utilize available resources to make our communities great places to live, work and do business,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones.
2014 CDBG Competitive Grant Awards:
Locality
Project Name
CDBG Award
City of Martinsville
Northside Comprehensive Community Development
$   934,904
Town of South Hill
West Main Street Project, Phase II
Multi-Year Funding
$   600,000
Wise County
Roda, Osaka and Stonega Sewer, Phase I
$   1,000,000
Buchanan County
Hurley Regional Water Project, Phase V
Letter of Intent
$  700,000
Town of Appalachia
Exeter Water Line Replacement, Phase II
$   485,626
Grayson County
Nuckolls Curve Water Project
$   259,755
Town of Crewe
Lipscomb and Stratton Streets Neighborhood Revitalization Project
Multi-Year Funding
$   700,000

Town of Clifton Forge
Lower Roxbury Neighborhood Revitalization
Multi-Year Funding
$   600,000
Mecklenburg County
Lambert Road Housing Rehabilitation
Multi-Year Funding
$   500,000
Town of Colonial Beach
Colonial Beach Downtown Revitalization
$   747,000
Greensville County
Washington Park Community Development, Phase V
Multi-Year Funding
$   500,000
Town of Troutdale
Troutdale Housing Rehabilitation Project
$   688,430
Town of Cleveland
Cleveland Town-wide Revitalization Project
$   799,880

Total Recommended
$   8,515,595

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Announces Next Steps in SOL Reform Process

Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democr...
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced the process for the nomination and appointment of members to the Standards of Learning (SOL) Innovation Committee. The 2014 General Assembly directed Secretary of Education Anne Holton to establish the committee as part of a package of reforms to the commonwealth’s assessment and accountability system. The committee’s charge is to recommend further reforms, in addition to an already-approved reduction in the number of required SOL tests. 
“Innovation and accountability are critical components in building a public education system that meets the demands of a 21st Century economy,” Governor McAuliffe said.  “The challenge for the SOL Innovation Committee will be to chart a course for reform that builds on the strengths of the current SOL system while creating more room for the rich, creative and innovative learning experiences that will prepare all Virginia students with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in a global economy.” 
As directed by the 2014 legislation, Secretary of Education Anne Holton is soliciting recommendations and nominations from statewide organizations representing parents, teachers, principals, school boards, superintendents and other stakeholders.
In addition, applications and nominations are being accepted from individuals interested in serving on the SOL Innovation Committee.  Individuals can submit nominations and applications online by visiting the Gubernatorial Appointments page of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website and following the directions. Applicants and nominators should select the Education Secretariat in applying or recommending someone for service on the SOL Innovation Committee. Applications and nominations will be accepted until May 23, 2014.
“My goal is to have the committee begin its important work this summer,” Secretary Holton said. “I look forward to working with a diverse group truly representative of the commonwealth and united by a desire to make our nationally regarded public schools even better.”
The SOL Innovation Committee also will include four members of the House of Delegates appointed by Speaker of the House William J. Howell and two members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules on the recommendation of Senate Committee on Education and Health Chairman L. Louise Lucas. Secretary Holton, Board of Education President Christian N. Braunlich (or his designee) and Superintendent of Public Instruction Steve Staples will serve as ex-officio members of the committee.
The reform legislation signed into law last month by Governor McAuliffe directs the SOL Innovation Committee to take a comprehensive look at the SOL assessments — including the computer adaptive tests now being piloted by the Virginia Department of Education — and related accountability and instructional issues and make recommendations to the Board of Education and General Assembly.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

GOP defeats open two chairmanships in House of Delegates - Richmond Times Dispatch

English: The state seal of Virginia. Српски / ...
English: The state seal of Virginia. Српски / Srpski: Застава америчке савезне државе Вирџиније. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Posted: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 5:22 pm
The defeat of two veteran Republican delegates in Tuesday’s primary opened more committee chairmanships in the House of Delegates and fanned debate about the impact of this year’s historic transportation funding vote.
Both Del. Joe T. May, R-Loudoun, and Beverly J. Sherwood, R-Frederick, supported the transportation funding overhaul that passed in this year’s General Assembly session, a landmark infusion of cash into the state’s beleaguered roads fund.
Many conservatives were displeased with the tax increases in the bill, which is expected to raise about $3.4 billion statewide over five years and an additional $2.5 billion in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
On the heels of Tuesday’s results, Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform said May’s defeat “can be directly attributed to his vote for Speaker Bill Howell's misguided $6 billion tax hike.”
Of the 34 Republicans -- and one Independent who caucuses with Republicans -- in the House who supported the transportation measure, four faced primary challenges and two were defeated. Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, beat a primary challenger but Gilbert did not support the transportation plan.
Del. Robert D. Orrock Sr., R-Caroline, and House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, both survived primary challenges – and Howell sponsored the transportation legislation.
Howell noted that May and Sherwood had each served for about 20 years and had taken thousands of votes.
“Two people losing out of 35, I think it’s hard to say that the transportation bill was a sole factor or even a primary factor,” he said. “I think in both Joe and Bev’s races there were a lot of other things that took place.”
Sherwood lost to retired physician Mark J. Berg and May lost to general contractor Dave A. LaRock.
The losses will also mean a greater shifting of committee chairmanships, as May chaired Transportation Committee and Sherwood chaired House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources.

Enhanced by Zemanta