Virginia Influencers

VirginiaInfluencers he once reliably red state of Virginia has developed the hint of a purplish hue and become something of a swing state. TThe GOP has come back with a vengeance over the last two years, yet in the preceding two decades, Ol’ Virginny became the first state to select an African American as governor, elected two Demo- cratic chief executives, and helped send Barack Obama to the White House. Indeed, the 2008 election marked the first time in forty-four years that the state awarded its electoral votes to a Democratic presidential candidate. While that contest ended one trend, the next year’s election con- tinued another one. Since 1977, Virginia has elected its one-term governor from the party opposite that of the sitting president. And, due to its unique election cycle—Virginia holds its gubernatorial contests in off-off years—voters can express their shifting sentiments at the polls every year. Here is our list of the most influential political players in Virginia— with no elected officials allowed. VirginiaInfluencers Top 10 Democrats Timothy M. Kaine David Mills Mo Elleithee The former governor helped Democrats The executive director of the Virginia A founding partner of Hilltop Public take control of the state Senate in 2007 Democratic Party has worked in the Solutions in Washington, D.C., Elleithee and elect Barack Obama president the Kaine administration and on several gu- has been a key consultant to Virginia following year. Kaine, an attorney and bernatorial campaigns. Mills is married Democrats such as Kaine and U.S. Sen. former Richmond mayor, served as to Jennifer McClellan, a rising young Mark Warner and is a veteran of several chairman of the national Democratic member of the state House. national campaigns. Party until early April, when he stepped down to run for U.S. Senate. C. Richard “Dickie” Cranwell David H. Hallock, Jr. The chairman of the state Democratic A former lobbyist, Hallock left the pri- Terry McAuliffe Party until his retirement last December vate sector last fall to become state There’s no question the “Macker” is still has considerable sway. That comes director for Sen. Warner. Hallock previ- a player in state politics. The former with the territory for Cranwell, who ously served as deputy director of policy national party chairman stumbled in his spent three decades in the legislature and deputy counsel for Warner when he first bid for office during the Democratic and helped Democrats score several was governor. primary for governor in 2009. But he key victories during his five years atop appears focused on a repeat gubernato- the party. Paul Reagan rial run in 2013 and has worked to raise The chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, his profile in Virginia. Ben Tribbett Reagan has previously worked for War- Tribbett has been called the Perez Hil- ner when he was governor and served Brian Moran ton of Virginia’s political blogosphere. under several Virginia congressmen. The chairman of the state Democratic The left-leaning keyboard cowboy can Party since last December, Moran is ignite a firestorm with a large type Peter Brodnitz charting a path back to prominence after headline and exclamation points on his A principal at the Benenson Strat- losing in the ’09 gubernatorial primary. blog. Although he has a sensational egy Group, Brodnitz is a well-known He previously represented Alexandria in streak, the influence of his writing is Democratic pollster who has worked for the state House of Delegates and is seen undeniable. Kaine, Webb, and former U.S. Rep Tom by some as the heir apparent to his older Perriello, among other clients. brother Jim’s seat in Congress. 42 Campaigns & Elections | June 2011 Top 10 Republicans Phil Cox Cox deserves as much credit as any- one for the 2009 election of Gov. Bob McDonnell. The political strategist and consultant is sought after as an advisor by campaigns outside Virginia and remains the governor’s top political man. He is now executive director of the Re- publican Governors Association. Chris LaCivita In Virginia, he’s known simply as LaCi- vita. And, while he may be anonymous to much of the public, his work isn’t. LaCivita is a campaign consultant and was a key media advisor involved in the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads at- tacking 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Frank B. Atkinson The chairman of McGuireWoods Con- sulting in Richmond, Atkinson is a powerful voice within the Virginia GOP. He’s also its resident historian, having penned two tomes about state politics. Atkinson is a veteran of the Reagan administration and worked for then-Gov. George Allen in the mid-90s. George Allen state Atty. Gen. Jerry Kilgore. Allen has A former Virginia governor and U.S. worked in former Gov. Allen’s adminis- Ed Gillespie senator, Allen’s star lost some luster tration (no relation) and for several GOP A prominent Republican strategist, Gil- during his failed 2006 Senate re-elec- groups over the years. lespie chaired McDonnell’s successful tion bid. But he’s been rebuilding his gubernatorial campaign. He previously brand and is running in 2012 with the M. Boyd Marcus, Jr. served as chairman of the national GOP hope of reclaiming the Senate seat he The other half of the Marcus & Allen, and as counselor to former President lost to Webb. LLC political consulting firm. Marcus George W. Bush. He is the founder of Ed served as chief of staff to former Gov. Gillespie Strategies, a consulting firm, Morton C. Blackwell Gilmore and former Congressman Tom and helped launch the outside advo- Blackwell’s political activism goes back Bliley. His son Randy is Lt. Gov. Bill Bol- cacy groups American Crossroads and decades and continues today. He is ling’s chief of staff. Crossroads GPS. founder of the Leadership Institute, an Arlington-based operation that J. Kenneth Klinge Pat Mullins trains conservatives to influence policy The northern Virginia lobbyist has been The chairman of the state GOP can through activism. He also serves as na- active in Republican politics for decades trace his roots in Republican politics tional committeeman for the state GOP. and remains an important voice in the to the early 1970s. Mullins has never party as a former executive director of held public office, but he’s helped elect Ray Allen, Jr. the state GOP. plenty of candidates over the years and One half of Marcus & Allen, LLC, a helped restore stability to the party. Richmond-based political consulting firm that has worked on campaigns for U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, former Gov. Jim Gilmore, and former June 2011 | Campaigns & Elections 43 VirginiaInfluencers Other Democrats Tom Perriello secretary, Wagner has lost a congres- Kevin Mack Even though the one-term congress- sional bid, and more recently, a run for Mack is a respected direct mail con- man from the Charlottesville area lost lieutenant governor. But many informed sultant who has worked on campaigns his seat in the 2010 midterms, many Democrats say she remains viable as a and for a host of progressive groups. He observers believe he will have a second future candidate. previously served as executive director act in state politics. His name is already of the Democratic Legislative Campaign in circulation for any number of races in Kevin Hall Committee and now leads the Mack the next few years, including governor Hall is one of the more skilled Demo- Crounse Group. and U.S. senator. cratic operatives around Virginia. He currently works for Sen. Warner on Capitol Vivian Paige L. Douglas Wilder Hill and previously served in the Warner An accountant by trade, Paige is prob- Wilder is a trailblazer as the first African and Kaine gubernatorial administrations. ably best known as a onetime Norfolk American to have been elected gov- treasurer candidate who became a ernor of a state. The always-quotable Gaylene Kanoyton noteworthy political blogger. She is Wilder more recently served as Rich- The first vice chair of the state Demo- plugged in to the inner workings of state mond’s mayor and is never at a loss cratic party is a prominent grassroots party politics. for words, sometimes to the chagrin of activist involved with a number of those in his own party. Virginia interest and advocacy groups. Alan Moore She is currently working for the Virginia A senior vice president with the Mack Levar Stoney Legislative Black Caucus. Crounse group, Moore has worked on mail Stoney is a former executive director campaigns for a host of Virginia Democrats of the state party and the first African Jon Bowerbank running statewide or for Congress. American to hold that post. He is a An energy services entrepreneur, Bow- veteran of multiple campaigns and now erbank is a county supervisor in south- Susan Swecker advises Terry McAuliffe as he contem- west Virginia and serves as a vice chair Swecker is a veteran of state and na- plates another run for office in Virginia. in the state party. Although he ended tional Democratic Party politics. She his 2009 lieutenant governor campaign recently served as a commissioner with Mary Sue Terry less than a month before the primary, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic The former attorney general became the many Democrats think Bowerbank has Beverage Control and has worked to get first woman elected to statewide office his eyes on another statewide run. women involved in politics. in Virginia in 1985. She’s still engaged in politics through The Farm Team PAC Doris Crouse-Mays Steve Pazmino she helped form to aid Democratic The first female president of the Virginia As executive director of the Senate women seeking office.

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