Kaine Names Cabinet Members

The Governor-elect's office has released the following statement:

"Governor-Elect Tim Kaine Appoints Secretary of Administration, Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry

Richmond - Governor-elect Tim Kaine today announced that Delegate Viola Baskerville will serve as Secretary of Administration, Daniel LeBlanc will serve as Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Robert Bloxom will serve as Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.

Baskerville has represented the 71st District in the House of Delegates since 1998. During her tenure in the house, she has served on a number of committees, including Health, Welfare, and Institutions and Commerce and Labor. She has also served as the Secretary of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus since 2000. Prior to her election to the House of Delegates, Baskerville spent three years on the Richmond City Council, including an appointment as Vice Mayor in 1996.

"Viola Baskerville impressed me as one of the hardest working members of city council when we served together in Richmond.  She has continued to show that work ethic and that commitment to making government work more efficiently and serve its citizens better as a member of the House," Kaine said.

LeBlanc comes to his post from his current position as President of the Virginia AFL-CIO, where he has served since 1990. LeBlanc has played a leadership role on the Advisory group to Virginia's Committee for the Future and the Governor's Workforce Council and its Executive Committee. As Secretary-Treasurer for the Virginia AFL-CIO, LeBlanc served as the organizations Chief Financial Officer.

"Danny's ability to work with people from both sides of the aisle, his broad knowledge of Virginia, and his commitment to inclusion and diversity are important assets, and they will serve the Commonwealth in this post," Kaine said.

Bloxom currently serves as the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. Prior to his appointment, Bloxom served as a member of the House of Delegates for twenty-five years. During his tenure in the General Assembly, he served as Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and on a number of committees, including Agriculture, Appropriations, and Labor and Commerce.

"We were proud to have the opportunity to create this new Secretariat during the Warner-Kaine administration, and proud to make Bob Bloxom the first Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.  Bob earned the respect of legislators from both parties during his service in the House and as Secretary.  I'm glad he is willing to stay and be a part of this team," Kaine said.

·         Viola O. Baskerville, Secretary of Administration, 54.  Born and raised in East Richmond, Baskerville has served as a member of the House of Delegates, representing the 71st District, for eight years. During her tenure in the House of Delegates, Baskerville served on the committees for Health, Welfare, and Institutions; Science and Technology, Militia and Police; and Commerce and Labor. She served as the Secretary of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus for six years, and was a member of the Joint Subcommittee Studying Lead Poisoning and the Committee Studying Access and Diversity in Higher Education.
Prior to her election as Delegate in 1998, Baskerville served on the Richmond City Council for nearly four years, including a two-year appointment as Vice Mayor. Baskerville received her Bachelor's Degree from the College of William and Mary in 1973 and, after graduation, was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study in Bonn, Germany. Baskerville earned a law degree from the University of Iowa in 1979.

Daniel G. LeBlanc, Secretary of the Commonwealth, 61. LeBlanc comes to his post from his current position as President of the Virginia AFL-CIO, where he has served since 1990. LeBlanc has played a leadership role on the Advisory group to Virginia's Committee for the Future and the Governor's Workforce Council and its Executive Committee.

As Secretary-Treasurer for the Virginia AFL-CIO, LeBlanc served as the organizations Chief Financial Officer. Prior to his time as Secretary-Treasurer, Leblanc worked for fourteen years as a Journeyman Machinist at the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corporation in Petersburg.

Robert S. Bloxom, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, 68.  Prior to his appointment as Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Robert S. Bloxom served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1978 until his retirement at the end of 2003. During his time in the legislature Delegate Bloxom served on the Agriculture, Labor and Commerce, and Chesapeake and its Tributaries committees, and also served a term as Chairman of the multi-state Chesapeake Bay Commission.
Bloxom has served as the past president of the Eastern Shore Jaycees and the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as the past chairman of the Eastern Shore Community College Foundation and the Eastern Shore Community College Board.  He is a member of the Fork Union Military Academy Board of Trustees and a former member of the Religious Herald Board of Trustees.  Bloxom graduated from the University of Richmond in 1959."

By  |  December 29, 2005; 10:49 AM ET  | Category:  Government
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