From Gov. Kaine's office:
GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES WAGNER RESIGNATION, APPOINTMENTS IN SECRETARIAT OF FINANCE~ Richard Brown to serve as Secretary of Finance; Daniel S. Timberlake as Director of Planning and Budget ~
RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the resignation of Secretary of Finance Jody M. Wagner, effective August 8, 2008. Secretary Wagner, the first woman to serve as Secretary of Finance in Virginia, was appointed to the position by Governor Kaine in 2006. Wagner previously served as Treasurer of Virginia under Governor Mark R. Warner.
"Jody Wagner's fiscal stewardship is one of the reasons why Virginia has been named best managed state and best state to do business," Governor Kaine said. "Her dedication and talents have secured Virginia's triple A bond rating and helped keep Virginia on the right track in a challenging economic environment. She has devoted herself to service, putting Virginia first, and she will be missed as an invaluable member of my team. "
Wagner's work with the General Assembly this year was central to the effort to pass a $1.6 billion higher education bond package. She also worked closely with Governor Kaine to reduce state spending by about $1.3 billion to balance the state budget after downturns in the national economy.
More on the "flip"...looks like an LG race with Jon Bowerbank - who has been crisscrossing the state for months - is shaping up here. This should be interesting!
"I have been honored to serve with Governor Kaine as Secretary of Finance," Secretary Wagner said. "He has approached difficult challenges with compassion and the commitment to understand all of the facts and ramifications of his decisions."The Governor also announced the appointment of Richard "Ric" Brown as the new Secretary of Finance. Brown currently serves as director of the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget (DPB), a position he has held since 2002. Deputy Secretary of Finance Daniel S. Timberlake will succeed Brown as director of DPB.
"I am confident that Ric Brown will continue to serve the Commonwealth with the same enthusiasm and skill that he brought to his time at DPB," Governor Kaine added. "Dan Timberlake is a fine public servant who is exceptionally qualified to direct the development of the state's budget, and I look forward to continue working with him in this new capacity."
Brown brings more than 35 years of experience working in state finances to his position as Secretary of Finance. He has served in the DPB since its inception in 1976, and as director since 2002.
Brown entered state government in 1971 as an economist with the Division of State Planning and Community Affairs before moving to the newly created DPB in 1976. He was promoted in 1986 to budget manager for DPB's Commerce and Resources Section, later heading up DPB's Budget Operations Section, becoming Deputy Director for Budgeting in 1990. He became acting director of the Department of Planning and Budget on June 1, 2001, and was appointed director of the agency in 2002.
Brown is a native of Arlington County. He holds a B.A. Degree in Economics from the College of William and Mary and a Masters of Commerce Degree from the University of Richmond.
Timberlake brings almost 25 years of financial experience to his new position as Director of DPB. He worked for two years as an analyst with the Virginia Department of Transportation, and 10 years as a budget analyst with the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget. He was named Assistant Superintendent for Finance at the Department of Education in 1997, a position he held until his appointment as Deputy Secretary in 2006.
Timberlake, of Mechanicsville, is a graduate of The College of William and Mary.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
July 29, 2008
Brian K. Patton, Deputy Campaign Manager
Bowerbank for Lt. Governor
brian@jonbowerbank.comBowerbank Announces Key Hires for 2009 Lt. Governor's Race
ROSEDALE, Virginia-July 28, 2008-Businessman and Russell County Board of Supervisors at-large member, Jon Bowerbank, announced today key campaign advisors to his 2009 Virginia Lieutenant Governor campaign. They include veterans of
several national and statewide Virginia campaigns."I am pleased to have this impressive group of campaign professionals as part of my run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia," said Bowerbank. "With their help, I look forward to a rewarding and successful campaign."
Key Bowerbank campaign advisors include:
* Maverick Strategies (www.maverickstrat.com) will provide strategic advice, communications and direct mail services to the Bowerbank campaign. Members of the Maverick firm include: Jessica Vanden Berg, who managed General Wesley Clark's 2004 primary victory in Oklahoma (the only state General Clark won in 2004) and Jim Webb's victorious primary and general election campaigns in Virginia in 2006; and Kristian Denny Todd, a highly experienced communications professional and veteran of several Democratic campaigns including U.S. Senators Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, Patty Murray, John Edwards, Bob Graham, and Jim Webb. Highly respected political strategist, Steve Jarding, who engineered Virginia Governor Mark Warner's gubernatorial victory in 2001 and Webb's upset victory in 2006 is also a partner at Maverick Strategies.
* Peter Brodnitz is a veteran of several successful Virginia campaigns, most notably Virginia Governor Tim Kaine's victory in 2005 and Jim Webb's U.S. Senate victory in 2006. Brodnitz has also served as pollster for Representative Rick Boucher (D-VA). He will serve as pollster for the Bowerbank campaign.
* Lowell Feld served as netroots coordinator on the Webb for Senate campaign, has consulted on netroots strategy to the Judy Feder for Congress campaign and the South Dakota Democratic Party, runs the largest Democratic political blog in Virginia ("RK"), and is co-author of "Netroots Rising: How a Citizen Army of Bloggers and Online Activists Is Changing American Politics." He will serve as netroots coordinator and strategist on the Bowerbank campaign.
The Bowerbank campaign has also has hired Jamie Nolan, a former fundraiser for the Democratic Party of Virginia to head up the state fundraising operation. In addition to
other funds raised, Bowerbank has already invested over $250,000.00 of his own money into his campaign and the campaign has a very aggressive fundraising plan in place with the commitment that it will have all necessary resources to mount a winning campaign.