Yesterday, Tim Kaine announced the appointment of two outstanding women to his cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Secretary of Finance. Let's look quickly at who these women are.1) For Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kaine chose Marilyn Tavenner, Group President of Outpatient Services at HCA, "the nation's leading provider of healthcare services." According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Tavenner "said she will be severing her ties with HCA, a company in which she held 26,100 shares of stock." Tavenner said she is doing so because "I have to be fair and objective In quitting HCA and joining the Kaine Administration, Tavenner "is expected to take a deep pay cut."
In addition to her work at HCA, Tavenner is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Nursing and a former staff nurse, giving her practical, hands-on experience in the health care field. According to VCU News, Tavenner oversaw all outpatient operations for HCA, including ambulatory and diagnostic centers. She also was "the only female division president among HCA's 11 divisions." According to VCU, Tavenner "supported many clinical initiatives that ultimately have led to more efficient patient care including a system for digitally storing and displaying radiology images." Tavenner won an "Outstanding Women" award from the YWCA of Greater Richmond in February 2004.
In announcing Tavenner's appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Governor-elect Kaine said that "[h]ealth care is so complex and expensive, we have to have people in this secretariat who are change-makers and can adapt to difficult realities." Kaine added that "one of Tavenner's main challenges will be to confront the rising cost of health care for the state, including the soaring expense of Medicaid, the state and federal health care program for the poor, disabled and elderly." Kaine quoted former hockey superstar (and possibly my favorite athlete ever) Wayne Gretzky about how "you've got to skate not to where the puck is, but where the puck is going." So true. Hopefully, Marilyn Tavenner will have as much luck (and skill) with "the puck" as Wayne Gretzky did in his hockey career! :)
2) For Secretary of Finance, Kaine selected State Treasurer Jody Wagner, making her the first woman ever to serve in the "powerful budget-writing post." Wagner said that helping to maintain Virginia's AAA bond rating was 'probably the major accomplishment' as Treasurer. Wagner has served in that role under Gov. Mark Warner since 2002, reporting to the Secretary of Finance (yes, this is a well-deserved promotion for Jody Wagner). In addition, Wagner is Senior Vice President of the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST), and a member of the State Board of the Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership. Wagner immediately received excellent reviews from a powerful Virginia Republican politician and also from the director of the House Appropriations committee:
?Anyone who goes into that job faces a learning curve,? Sen. John H. Chichester, R-Stafford, said. ?She?s certainly bright and capable.?Robert P. Vaughn, director of the House Appropriations Committee, predicted that bond-rating agencies will look favorably on Wagner?s appointment.
?Financial continuity is important to Wall Street,? he said.
Wagner lives in Norfolk with her husband and four children. Good luck to Jody Wagner!
So, there you have it: another day, another two impressive nominations by Governor-elect Kaine. Congratulations to both appointees!