Governor McAuliffe Announces Administration Appointments (People Keep Leaving)

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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 build a new Virginia economy and create more jobs across the Commonwealth.

Secretariat of the Commonwealth

Board Appointments

Board of Regents of Gunston Hall

*Members of the Board of Regents are selected from a list of members submitted by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America

·       Elaine Carter Blaylock* of Dallas, TX

·       Harrison Flynn Giddens of Tampa, FL

·       Penn Ervin Grove of Knoxville, TN

·       Nancy Hudler Keuffel of Bloomfield Hills, MI

·       Barbara Camp Linville of Lake Forest, IL

·       Linda H. Mattingly of McLean, VA

·       Rowena Day Boyd Van Dyke of St. Louis, MO

·       Virginia T. Simonds White of Dover, MA

Board of Health Professions

·       Helene D. Clayton-Jeter, OD of Great Falls, Health Programs Coordinator and Director of the FDA’s Cardiovascular and Endocrine Liaison Program in the Office of Health and Constituent Affairs, Office of External Affairs in the Office of the Commissioner at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; representing the Board of Optometry

·       Frazier W. Frantz, MD of Norfolk, pediatric surgeon, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk, where he has practiced since retirement from the U. S. Navy in 2009; representing the Board of Medicine.

·       Yvonne Patricia Haynes, LCSW* of Midlothian, Mental Health Director, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority; representing the Board of Social Work

·       Allen R. Jones Jr., DPT, PT of Newport News, Owner and CEO, Dominion Physical Therapy & Associates, Inc.; representing the Board of Physical Therapy

·       Robert H. Logan III, PhD of Roanoke, Executive Director, Western Virginia Emergency Medical Services Council

·       Trula E. Minton of Richmond, Chief Nurse Executive, Chippenham  and Johnston-Willis Hospitals, Inc.; representing the Board of Nursing

·       Martha S. Perry, MS of McLean, Marriage and Family Therapy Resident,  Caring Couples, Happy Lives; Doctoral Candidate, University of Kentucky

·       Ellen B. Shinaberry, RPH, PharmD of Harrisonburg, Pharmacy IT Manager, Sentara RMH Medical Center; representing the Board of Pharmacy

·       Jacquelyn M. Tyler, RN of Freeman, Quality Manager and Nursing Educator/Supervisor, PTX, LLC and Old Dominion Dialysis, Inc.

·       James D. Watkins, DDS of Hampton, General Dentist in private practice; representing the Board of Dentistry

·       J. Paul Welch II, of Warsaw, a second generation Owner/Manager of Welch Funeral Home on the Northern Neck; representing the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers

·       James Wells, RPh of Front Royal, Pharmacy Administrative Director, Valley Health-Warren Memorial Hospital and Page Memorial Hospital; Pharmacy Preceptor, University of Charleston-Robert C. Byrd Center for Pharmaceutical Education

Governor’s Advisory Board on Volunteerism and National Service

·       Marshall Dendy of Richmond, a senior at Trinity Episcopal School

Information Technology Advisory Council

·       Sandra “Sandy” J. Adams of Richmond, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

·       Anjan Chimaladinne of Chantilly, Vice President, Udyoga LLC

·        Clyde E. Cristman of Richmond, Director, Department of Conservation and Recreation

·        Kent C. Dickey of Richmond, Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Department of Education

·       David Ihrie of Herndon, Chief Technology Officer, Center for Innovative Technology

·       Monte Johnson of Ashburn, Senior IT Consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton

·       Charlie Kilpatrick, PE of Fredericksburg, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Transportation

·       Salvatore “Sam” Lupica of Richmond, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Commissioner, Virginia Employment Commission

·       Kelly Thomasson Mercer of Ashland, Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth

·       Judy Napier of Richmond, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

·       Richard F. Sliwoski, PE of Richmond, Director, Department of General Services

·       Ernest F. Steidle, PhD.* of Waynesboro, Chief Operations Officer, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services 

·       David A. Von Moll of Chesterfield, State Comptroller, Virginia Department of Accounts

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority

·       Timothy D. Sands of Blacksburg, President, Virginia Tech

·       Michael R. Steed of Chevy Chase, MD, Founder and Managing Partner, Paladin Capital Group

·        Teresa A. Sullivan* of Charlottesville, President, University of Virginia

Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee to the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council

·       Kirk J. Havens, PhD.* of Plainview, Director, Coastal Watersheds Program, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary

*Denotes reappointment

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Governor McAuliffe Statement on Verdict in McDonnell Case

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement following the verdict in the public corruption case against former Governor Bob McDonnell and former First Lady Maureen McDonnell:

“I am deeply saddened by the events of the trial that ended in today’s verdict, and the impact it has had on our Commonwealth’s reputation for honesty and clean government.

“Dorothy and I will continue to pray for the McDonnell family and for everyone who was affected by this trial.” 

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Governor McAuliffe Statement on the Launch of the National Capital Region’s 2024 Olympic Bid

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Governor McAuliffe issued the following statement voicing his support for the National Capital Region’ bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games:

“I’m excited to join with leaders from across the region to support the Capital Region’s bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. My top priority as Governor is to spur economic growth and build a new Virginia economy centered on innovation, and job creation. Hosting the 2024 Olympics can both create jobs and provide a lasting legacy in sport, tourism, and culture that will benefit our region in the long-term. Virginia is a critical part of the vibrant, diverse Capital Region and the Olympics will highlight the Commonwealth’s strength on the world stage. I look forward to working with Governor O’Malley and Mayor Gray to bring the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games to the National Capital Region.”

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Improvements to Commonwealth Hurricane Preparedness

English: Hurricane evacuation route sign in the USA  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hurricane evacuation timeline adjusted to allow officials more time to make decisions and carry out emergency plans

RICHMOND, Va. – Governor Terry McAuliffe released a report today outlining improvements to Virginia’s hurricane preparedness plan, including an adjustment to the evacuation decision-making timeline. The hurricane in-season review, led by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Department of Transportation, focused on five critical areas: coordination and information-sharing between state and local emergency officials, evacuation of impacted areas, sheltering evacuees, assistance to those with access and functional needs or without transportation, and communicating with the public. 

“Building a New Virginia Economy begins with having the plan and the infrastructure in place to keep our families, communities and businesses safe in an emergency like a hurricane,” said Governor McAuliffe. “This review demonstrates that we have many strengths when it comes to hurricane preparedness, but also a number of challenges that we must meet head on.

“My administration will enact the recommendations of this report to strengthen our response plan so that we can get localities, first responders and Virginia families the tools they need to respond to an emergency and get back to their lives as soon as possible.”

The revised hurricane evacuation decision-making timeline includes the following key actions prior to the onset of tropical storm force winds (39-73 mph):

·       -96 hours – Initiate deployment of state resources for evacuation activities

·       -72 hours – Recommend first call by the governor with chief local elected officials concerning evacuation plans and activities (previously occurred at the -48 hour mark)

·       -48 hours – Recommend start of mandatory evacuation for a Category 3 hurricane (previously occurred at the -38 hours mark)

“While this change may provide up to an additional 12 hours for deciding evacuation issues, it depends on a clearly defined storm track and intensity analysis several days before landfall,” said Virginia Department of Emergency Management State Coordinator Jeff Stern. “Last July, Hurricane Arthur rapidly increased from a tropical storm to a Category 2 hurricane only 14 hours prior to landfall in North Carolina, which would have left little time to evacuate a large coastal population like Hampton Roads prior to the storm’s arrival if one had been needed.”

Last May, the Governor directed cabinet secretaries and state agencies responsible for carrying out a hurricane evacuation to work with their local and federal partners to identify potential short- and long-term improvements to existing plans. The following are some of the key findings of the in-season review:

·       Coordination and information-sharing between state and local emergency officials has been inconsistent. Identified areas for improvement include standardization of conference calls, use of technology for information exchange, deployment of liaison officers in local emergency operations centers and continued development of a regional approach to disasters in Hampton Roads.

·       A mass evacuation of Hampton Roads may not be necessary if areas at risk are prioritized and communicated to the public early. This allows those in higher-risk areas enough time to get to a safe location.

·       Virginia and the Hampton Roads region should emphasize focused evacuations. New information technology will enable better planning for the most critical areas.

·       The reversal of lanes on Interstate 64 is an evacuation tool of last resort and is reserved for the most catastrophic storms.

·       Future transportation projects should consider capacity improvements to facilitate evacuations.

·       Additional shelter capacity is needed for those seeking refuge within the Hampton Roads region that is capable of withstanding storm winds.

·       Building codes have not adequately addressed the requirements for storm wind protection.

·       Plans are in place to contract with bus services to evacuate individuals with access and functional needs and those without transportation, but these efforts are fragmented between different jurisdictions and levels of government.

·       Progress has been made to communicate regional preparedness information to the public through Ready Hampton Roads, but a more robust public messaging effort will be needed as changes are made to evacuation planning and sheltering, and also when communicating with summer tourists.

·       Future state exercises should focus on how local, state and federal partners respond after the disaster; addressing issues such as intermediate and long-term housing, economic recovery, infrastructure rebuilding and communications.

A full copy of the in-season hurricane review report can be found at www.vaemergency.gov.

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Second Round of Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) Fund Grants

P-51 Mustang in flight during an air show at Langley Air Force Base, in Virginia (USA). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the recipients of the second round of Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) Fund grants.

The FACT fund was officially established in the 2012 General Assembly Session, to help Virginia counter actions taken by the federal government that may adversely impact the citizens and economy of Virginia. A first round of FACT Fund grants were announced on December 2, 2013. 

On July 21, 2014, Governor McAuliffe refined the application criteria by announcing that Virginia localities that have had or have pending identifiable or measurable negative impacts caused by encroachment upon military or security installations were eligible to apply for these grant funds.  The amount available for this second round of grants from the FACT Fund totaled $4,361,600.

“Virginia’s military bases and installations are a key asset to our economy, and we have a responsibility to protect them,” said Governor McAuliffe. “I am pleased that we were able to keep this FACT Fund money in the budget, and award it to communities so that they can guard against encroachment and preserve our Commonwealth’s strong relationship with the Department of Defense. As we work to build a new Virginia economy, we must continue to be the most military-friendly state in the nation. These grants will help us achieve that goal.”

In 2012, the General Assembly created the FACT Fund Advisory Commission (the “Commission”), composed of General Assembly members, to assist in the review of the FACT Fund requests.

The current Advisory Commission is composed of five members from the Senate Finance Committee: Chairman Walter A. Stosch, Senators Janet D. Howell, L. Louise Lucas, Frank W. Wagner, and John C. Watkins. The Advisory Commission is also composed of five members of the House Appropriations Committee: Chairman S. Chris Jones, Delegates L. Scott Lingamfelter, Rosalyn R. Dance, Edward T. Scott and Barry D. Knight. 

Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs John Harvey, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones, and Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Bill Hazel serve as FACT Fund advisors to the Governor.  On August 15, 2014, FACT Fund applicants presented to the FACT Fund Commission in Richmond.

Funding for the FACT Fund was made possible by Governor McAuliffe’s veto of language in the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget, which had the effect of restoring the General Assembly’s elimination of the existing balance to the FACT Fund and making it available for this round of grants.

FACT Fund Grant Recipients (Related Military Installation)

Recipient: City of Hampton (Langley AFB)

Award: $1,260,000

Summary: Langley Air Force Base (LAFB) is the only Air Force Base in the Commonwealth of Virginia and serves as a joint base.  The City of Hampton submitted an appropriate application for funds to battle the threat of development encroachment and was recommended for approval by the Commission. The City will use the funds from this grant to purchase both developed and undeveloped properties in designated clear zones.  The purchase of these properties prevents the loss of life and property in the event of aborted takeoffs or landings.  The City of Hampton will match the FACT Fund grant 1:1.

"I want to thank Governor McAuliffe for this grant, which will help Hampton protect the enormous value that Langley Air Force Base," said Hampton Mayor George Wallace. "The Governor fought to keep this FACT Funding in the state budget, and we are grateful that he used some of it to help us make Hampton the best home in the world for Langley and the men and women who serve there."

Recipient: City of Virginia Beach (NAS Oceana)

Award: $1,830,000

Summary: Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana is a master jet base for the U.S. Atlantic Naval Fleet and following a BRAC Order from 2005 has had a long-standing program to combat high density encroachment. Since inception nine years ago, the City indicates the program has invested over $122 million to buy properties or buy down density to assist with the encroachment issues surrounding the two runways.  The City of Virginia Beach submitted an appropriate application for funds to battle the threat of development encroachment and was recommended for approval by the Commission. Funding from this grant will continue to address priority purchases such as vacant land in accident potential zones with residential zoning and any property in clear zones. The City of Virginia Beach will match the FACT Fund grant 1:1.

Will Sessoms, Mayor of Virginia Beach, said, "On behalf of the people of Virginia Beach, I want to thank Governor McAuliffe for investing in our ongoing effort to keep NAS Oceana here in Hampton Roads, and for restoring this critical funding. Virginia Beach’s partnership with the Navy is a national model, and the FACT Fund is a valuable weapon as we continue to fight encroachment and work to create the best possible environment for the bases and installations that are essential to our Commonwealth’s economy.”

Recipient: City of Chesapeake (NALF Fentress)

Award: $1,000,000

Summary: The Navy Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) Fentress serves as the outlying training facility to (NAS) Oceana.  The City of Chesapeake submitted an appropriate application for funds to battle the threat of development encroachment and was recommended for by approval by the Commission.  Funds from this grant will be used by the City to begin purchasing properties under the recently established Fentress Encroachment Protection Acquisition Program.  Acquisitions are targeted in the highest priority areas of properties in the Fentress Overlay District.  The City of Chesapeake will match the FACT Fund grant 1:1.

Speaking about the award, Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff said, “This grant will help the City of Chesapeake continue to battle encroachment so that the Navy can operate effectively in our city, and our residents can continue to enjoy the high quality of life we offer. I want to thank Governor McAuliffe for acting to restore this funding in the state budget, and for helping to fund this important work here in Chesapeake.”

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