The Washington Post‘s Mike Shear has wrapped up his Race to Richmond blog and started a new one: The Richmond Report. It’s described as:
What you will find, I hope, is a casual, fun and sometimes off-beat place for those little nuggets of political news from Virginia’s state capitol that you just can’t wait for tomorrow’s paper to read. (NOTE: Feel guilty, however, if you don’t buy tomorrow’s paper, too.)
This blog will have a bit of everything: legislative tidbits, transition speculation, news from the new Kaine 3rd floor, info from inside the GOP and Democratic caucus and the national travels of our own George Allen and Mark Warner, the could-be, might-be, wanna-be presidential candidates.
Today, Shear lists candidates for cabinet secretaries, who are likely to be announced in a couple of weeks. Notable mentions include erstwhile Lt. Governor candidate Viola Baskerville for Health and Human Services, and Sen. Charles Hawkins for Natural Resources.
Apparently, Secretary of Technology may be eliminated entirely. The position was established by Gov. Jim Gilmore, and is fawned over by technology council types, but it’s never been particularly clear to me what good it does. Don’t get me wrong — I think Eugene Huang is a great guy. But the current scope of the position doesn’t seem to warrant a cabinet position. I’d love to see that position expanded such that the position would make sense.
I’ll enjoy watching the process of selecting cabinet members and transitioning from the Warner administration to the Kaine administration. I’ve never seen this process up close, so it’ll be a chance to learn how this works.
What about former Delegate Jack Rollison (R-Prince William) for Secretary of Transporation? That would be a nod to bipartisanship and moderation – as well as Northern Virginia. (apologies in advance if this posts twice…)
I think that getting Terry Kilgore for Transportation would be a savvy move on many levels, but Jack Rollison is a good idea as well. The key to that one is that it should really, really go to a current or very recent Republican from the House of Delegates. Kaine’s going to have a serious showdown with the House over transportation by the end of his term that will come to define and shape his legacy. This will prove to be the most crucial appointment that Kaine makes (tying with Public Safety if there’s a terrorist attack or major natrual disaster). A Republican that knows his way around the House is exactly who you want as your point man in that fight.
There is no partisan solution to transport problems. Finding a capable, articulate Republican with strong ties to either Hampton Roads or Northern Virginia would give the Kaine administration great credibility with the public generally as well as smoothing ties with those elements of the General Assembly that understand and are willing to do something about these problems. If Kaine is shrewd enough to put up a fence around Transportation and Education and declare them to be Bipartisan Solution Zones, with credit to be shared by all those who work in good faith to improve the situation, he will mark himself as a master politician who also can do some good for all the citizens.
ATA and NoVA Scout – strong comments both. I’ve fleshed out my reasons for Rollison here.
Is there anyone who disagrees with the idea of getting a Republican for Transportation? Because it would be nice if it could be pointed out to fire-breathing Republicans that the Democratic grassroots desires the bipartisan inclusion of Republicans in prominent cabinet positions. So far I’m not sure that 3 guys throwing out GOP names counts.