Just over one week after his victory over Republican candidate Mark L. Earley, Gov.-elect Mark R. Warner, already has begun preparing to move into Richmond.
The governor-elect has been focusing on his transition so that he can "hit the ground running" when he enters office, said Mo Elleithee, communications director of the Warner transition.
In preparation for his move, Warner has created a team to help ease the changing of hands, which will occur Jan. 12.
"The governor-elect is committed to putting together the most bipartisan transition effort in history," Elleithee said.
Warner chose former Democratic U.S. Rep. L.F. Payne Jr., who currently teaches GFAP 438, "Campaigns and Elections" at the University, as chairman of the transition team, along with John G. Milliken as transition director.
Government and Foreign Affairs Professor Larry J. Sabato praised Warner's selection of Payne.
"Warner has made a very wise selection with" Payne, Sabato said.
Besides choosing members for the transition team, in the coming month, Warner will be selecting cabinet members.
According to Elleithee, Warner is trying to focus on diversifying his cabinet.
Warner will not be concentrating on party politics, but rather the best individuals for the jobs, Elleithee said.
"Warner is reaching out across party lines to well-known names and senior Republicans" as he tries to appoint his cabinet in the coming month, Sabato said.
But Virginia's Republicans will have to take a "wait-and-see" attitude to determine "which Mark Warner shows up in January," said Ed Matricardi, executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia.
Matricardi referred to what he called a more "conservative and moderate Mark Warner" than Virginia had seen prior to the gubernatorial elections.
If Warner decides to become more conservative, this may ease his relations with a Republican lead General Assembly and a Republican attorney general.
"The Republicans in the General Assembly are going to be more than willing to stand by Mark Warner if he puts forth the moderate and conservative agenda that he campaigned for," Matricardi said.
The General Assembly gained a strong Republican majority Nov. 7 with a 64-34 balance in the House. This could be one of Warner's toughest obstacles while in office.
Warner will be preparing to face many other tough challenges as he enters office Jan. 12. With the budget falling well below expectations, it will be one of Warner's top priorities.
But Warner must also deal with a split executive branch with Jerry Kilgore, a Republican, as attorney general.
The Warner transition team, however, has said that these problems facing the new governor do not worry them.
"The people gave a mandate for bipartisanship. The time for campaigning is now over and the time for leading is now," Elleithee said.
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