Youngkin's selection of Wheeler could backfire, Davis said, given that his proximity to Trump makes him "kind of the lightning rod." background-color: #003388; WebFound 1 colleague at Cameronblue Capital LLC. The former Carlyle Group executive, who lent his campaign $20 million, has echoed some of former president Donald Trumps drain-the-swamp rhetoric while cutting a more mainstream image as a fleece-clad basketball dad. Youngkin has more Cabinet picks to announce. display: inline-block; Youngkin's transition team did not respond to a request for comment. Youngkin, who takes office Jan. 15, has announced just three other Cabinet picks, all from outside government: investment banker Stephen Emery Cummings for finance secretary; Aimee Rogstad Guidera, a consultant and national expert on the use of data in education policy, for education secretary; and Northern Virginia business executive Caren Merrick for commerce secretary. "That may be one Democrats want to hit him on," Davis said, billing a noisy nomination battle as "low-hanging fruit for them.". Senate Democrats rejected Youngkins nomination of former Trump official Andrew Wheeler as the states natural resources secretary an unusual step, but not unheard-of during times of divided government in Richmond. Two years later, Cullen led an investigation on behalf of Eastern Virginia Medical School into a racist photo on Northams 1984 medical school yearbook page. It has been such an intense movement that has trickled around the country that one by one, you saw other governors doing the same, not just Republican governors but Democratic governors as well, said Kristin Davison, an Axiom Strategies consultant who advises Youngkin. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 1 0 obj "Andrew is going to be on the Glenn Youngkin team.". WebJeff Goettman. .widget-row.Republican {
Insiders depict Youngkin as relentlessly upbeat, even when work days stretch 12 hours or more. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Ralph Northam (D). RICHMOND Gov. It had been widely assumed that Goettman, who had served as the Youngkin campaigns chief operating officer, would become chief of staff since Youngkin tapped him to lead his transition shortly after Election Day. His picks include alumni from Team Obama (one), Team George W. Bush (four), and Team George H.W. Cullen's son, Thomas Cullen, served as a US attorney in the Trump administration before becoming a federal judge in western Virginia. He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute and has been published in Business Insider, USA TODAY College, National Review Online and the Washington Free Beacon. Don L. Scott Jr. (D-Portsmouth), who is Black, to question Youngkins religious faith on the floor of the House of Delegates. On Monday, he announced that Youngkin campaign COO and Transition Director Jeff Goettman will be chief of staff. She also led communications for the House Oversight Committee.Eric Moeller, Chief Transformation OfficerEric Moeller is a senior operating executive with over 30 years of experience shaping and leading transformational change in companies across the United States. But the flow of officials from Trump's presidency into Youngkin's administration was not simply an inevitable career step for displaced Republican politicos looking to remain in government. color: white; The dust up prompted an irritated Sen. L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), the highest-ranking Black woman in the General Assembly, to go public with the fact that Youngkin had confused her with another Black lawmaker Sen. Mamie E. Locke (D-Hampton) when he sent a text earlier in the week praising a Black History Month speech. During the campaign, he routinely riled up predominantly White crowds by railing against critical race theory, an academic framework for studying the history of systemic racism that is not on Virginias K-12 curriculum. He holds a B.S. She also formerly led communications at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Chief of Staff to the Governor of Virginia, .infobox { Youngkin praises senator for speech on Black History Month - but mistook her for a colleague. What has the State Capitol chattering is the degree to which Youngkins harsher messages seem to be aimed at a national audience, fueling speculation that he has aspirations beyond Richmond. Last week, in a brief sit-down interview his first with The Post since he was elected Youngkin said there is no contradiction between his promises and actions. background-color: grey; His current term ends on January 17, 2026. } Bush administration, and later, as attorney general of Virginia. Top officials have learned to sleep with their phones so they can respond to Youngkins text messages, which can land as early as 5 a.m. Staffers routinely groan about Youngkins early business hours. endobj Among Youngkin's day-one picks for key roles in the Old Dominion: Andrew Wheeler, head of the Environmental Protection Agency during the Trump administration, whose nomination to serve as Virginia's natural resources secretary has prompted outcry from Democrats, who consider him beholden to fossil fuel and energy company interests. The political newcomer announced a handful of key appointees this week, including his chief of staff, counselor, and secretary of veterans and defense affairs. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2006-2010 before being appointed as the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Were standing up for parents, Youngkin said, decrying mandatory mask culture in schools. Gov. Control access to the governor and manage the governor's calendar; Monitor the flow of information to the governor on policy issues; Oversee gubernatorial Cabinet and staff; and. The Transition Steering Committee will be led by Transition Director Jeff Goettman and co-chaired by the Honorable Kay Coles James and Senator Steve In the run-up to his inauguration on January 15, Youngkin has recruited from the ranks of Trump administration veterans, many of whom have faced a difficult job market in the year since the twice-impeached former president left Washington, DC, nearly a year ago. Theres discipline, obviously, but its not like people are afraid to stick their head in and say, Do you have a minute, sir? Cullen said. .clearfix { Ralph Northam (D), who, under the state constitution, could not seek a consecutive term, has a 15-member Cabinet. The position involves overseeing such policy topics as conservation, climate change and Chesapeake Bay restoration and agencies including the DEQ, the Department of Wildlife Resources and the Department of Historic Resources. Heres why. The Honorable Patrick A. Richard served as Co-Chair on Governor George Allens Commission on Parole Abolition and Sentencing Reform with former Attorney General William P. Barr. <> In 2015, was elected to a four-year term on the countys Board of Supervisors. } Born in Fairfax and a graduate of the University of Virginia, Becca has spent the last two years as Director at the Brunswick Group. Cullen has most recently represented Pence in connection with the special US House of Representatives inquiry into the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Wheeler has drawn the most political heat of Youngkin's picks to date, with Democrats in the Virginia Senate criticizing him as a "ham-handed appointment" whom they'll work to block in the state legislature. Youngkin's assertive first week in office leaves Republicans jubilant, Democrats fuming. %%EOF Previously, he was a Managing Member at Thayer Capital Partners, a Washington, D.C. based private equity firm with more than $1.5 billion in equity investments, and he also provided merger and acquisition and financing advisory services with Morgan Stanley, Wasserstein Perella, and Robertson Stephens during his career.Jeff has lived in Virginia for over 20 years with his wife of 30 years, and they have three wonderful children.Rebecca Glover, Deputy Chief of Staff & Communications DirectorBecca Glover is a Virginia native with nearly two decades of experience in communications and media relations. width: 150px; Goettman, who will be Youngkins chief of staff, served as the chief operating officer and policy director for the governor-elects campaign and as the transition director Several people from Hampton Roads are part of the committee. Cullens selection could suggest that Youngkin does not intend to thoroughly disrupt politics as usual in a state where cozy ties between government and business interests have long been lauded and derided as the Virginia way. At the very least, the choice indicates that Youngkin wants an experienced political hand on his team as he tries to get his arms around the states sprawling bureaucracy. Youngkin's incoming chief of staff, Jeff Goettman, worked in the Treasury Department during the Trump administration before becoming chief operating officer of Youngkin's gubernatorial bid. WebJeff Goettman serves as the Chief of Staff for Governor Glenn Youngkin. } (Video: Jorge Ribas/The Washington Post, Photo: Matt McClain/The Washington Post). Applicants who wish to serve the Commonwealth in the Youngkin administration must apply online. hb``Pd`` $NG1F fah@Sb~_ By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider When it was pointed out that allowing parents to opt out effectively means no mandates, Youngkin said: This is about parents having a choice. He founded CameronBlue Capital to invest in small and mid-sized businesses. clear: both; .widget-row.value-only { (The Center Square) As Virginia state government begins its transition to Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin from Gov. He left for a private-sector job in July. /Contents 5 0 R The two sides of Youngkin: Virginias new governor calls for unity but keeps stoking volatile issues. The questions he would ask were more in line with a CEO asking me a question and challenging me on things instead of just asking for information, he said. ", In order to change the trajectory of our great Commonwealth, we cant operate on government time, said Governor-elect Youngkin. A previous version of this story said incorrectly that Gov. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. >> Subscribe for the Latest Hampton Roads News! The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by each administration. Senator Richard Burr as Communications Director and assisted on his 2016 campaign. Youngkin is far more prepared to talk about financial matters than most politicians he has worked with, Layne said. In that role she strategized complex media relations campaigns for Fortune 500 companies.Prior to the Brunswick Group, she led the communications team at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Between Trump acolyte and suburban dad: Inside the many faces of Virginia GOPs Youngkin. Senator Richard Burr. WebMr. margin-bottom: 0; Eric will join the administration on January 17th. I gave them a heads up because obviously I need them to sign the bill, Petersen said. Business leaders, Richmond lobbyists and others with interests before state government have been eager for any scrap of news about the transition, looking for clues as to how someone with no experience in state politics or government plans to operate. Va. Gov. Heres why. } WebVIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, VIRGINIA 23806 P.O. deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, convicted on multiple counts of corruption, fraud, and bribery, Trump-endorsed, election fraud conspiracy theorists. He is aware of the rumors. Related: Northam, Youngkin pledge to work together during transition of power. background-color: white; <> .widget-row.value-only.black { 5 0 obj Employees could be granted waivers, but needed to go through officials as high up as Youngkin chief of staff Jeff Goettman. <> The governors leadership was only inspiring it to continue across the country., Youngkin says he's 'having a ball,' defends polarizing actions as living up to campaign promises. .widget-key { as well as other partner offers and accept our. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. "The fact that it's only a third means you're trying to balance a party that has been heavily loyal to Donald Trump," the seven-term Virginia congressman said of Youngkin's hiring process. Goettman was chief operating officer and policy director for the Youngkin campaign and served as the transition director post-election. Dont miss reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. McDonnell was convicted on multiple counts of corruption, fraud, and bribery in 2014, only to have the US Supreme Court overturn the ruling two years later. border:1px solid #FFB81F; Virginia Senate Democrats join GOP on amendment to allow parents to opt out of school mask mandates. Were going to do things differently. The campaign also announced a website where people who seek to serve the administration can apply for jobs, at YoungkinTransition.com. (The Center Square) Virginia Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin announced his selection of key members of his senior staff this week. Also Wednesday, Youngkin announced his pick for secretary of administration, Margaret Lyn McDemid, a former longtime employee of the Federal Reserve System, who served there as chief information officer and director of Federal Reserve information technology. Davis predicted that a contentious confirmation process could be Youngkin's first real test of power. And so the discussion around race isnt one that we should walk away from, its one we should walk to., But Youngkins fanning of the national culture wars over race has fueled speculation that he is aiming beyond Richmond to a run for president. In June 2017, he was He meets every morning around 6:30 with chief of staff Jeff Goettman, either at the Executive Mansion or over the phone, then huddles at 7 with top advisers in the WUSA9 is now on Roku and Amazon Fire TVs. } Glenn Youngkin (R) announced Goettman as chief of staff. color: white; width: 43%; The new Virginia governor, a political outsider, is seeking advice from those with experience in Richmond. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Youngkin told them that Matthew Moran, who was chief of staff to former House speaker Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), would play a role, according to three people who were on the calls and spoke on the condition of anonymity because caucus meetings are confidential. Windows 11 update brings Bings chatbot to the desktop, Chinese state media calls out Elon Musk over coronavirus tweet. This version has been amended to say he has drawn criticism for uncertainty around the future of the slave history program. Your commute. He holds a B.S. He has also drawn criticism for uncertainty around the future of a program to teach the history of enslavement at the Executive Mansion. padding-left: 10px; Eric, his wife Leslie, and daughter live on a farm in Louisa County. } That's why this incredible transition team represents various backgroundsbusiness owners, law enforcement officers, veterans, healthcare providers, and most importantly, parents who will bring an array of experience and fresh perspectives that will pave the way for a transformation where Virginia soars and never settles.. Judge temporarily halts Youngkin order making masks optional in Va. schools after lawsuit from school boards, Youngkin gathered a handful of aides for a pep talk that Friday afternoon. %PDF-1.5 % } Youngkin will be sworn in as the Governor of Virginia on January 15. We have real work to do and were getting the work done., One of Va. Gov. Cullen, who will provide legal counsel to the governor in his role, is a former attorney general for the commonwealth and served as a co-chair on Gov. These qualified individuals with various backgrounds bring vast experience that ensure we will deliver on our Day One promises for all Virginians in making Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family.. It does make sense for someone who is absolutely new to the job to at least rely on the advice of people who have recently held it, Holsworth said. Cullen has represented clients domestically and abroad, including the parents of Otto Warmbier, the University of Virginia student held hostage by North Korea.Mr. This article was published more than1 year ago. Youngkin's incoming chief of staff, Jeff Goettman, worked in the Treasury Department during the Trump administration before becoming chief operating officer of Youngkin's gubernatorial bid. In his role, he helps businesses that are seeking improvements in performance and organizational health. Please try again. >> He describes a governor who uses his background as the former chief executive of a private equity firm to full advantage in looking at budgetary issues. He founded CameronBlue Capital, a private equity rm, to focus on control investments Several said they were unable to respond without explicit clearance from Youngkin's press office, which they did not receive. He was re-elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2019 and elected Chair of the board by his peers in 2020 and 2021. Last year, before and after the election, Youngkin said he would stop the state mandate but let localities decide for themselves. Download the apps today for live newscasts and video on demand. Jeff Goettman, who served as the chief operating officer for Youngkins campaign, will head the governor-elects transition team.} His team promises to "provide fresh and unique insights into the problems facing the Commonwealth and the solutions that will make Virginia the best place to live, work and raise a family.". Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. Im not going to make everybody happy along the way.. Depends on the audience. I will stress the need for cooperation, he said. I talked to Matt Moran. Aubrey Layne, a Republican who served as finance secretary under Northam and transportation secretary under former governor Terry McAuliffe (D), is working part-time with Youngkin to help his finance staff get up to speed. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Virginia's Gov.-elect announced some key picks ahead of his Jan. 15 inauguration. Anything above that will require the approval of Youngkins chief of staff, Jeff Goettman.