2017 ANNUAL REPORT CELEBRATING 20 YEARS FROM THE BOARD CHAIR Where were you in June 1997? That’s when VPAP flipped the switch that made it possible – for the first time anywhere – for citizens to go online and see for themselves where state candidates got their donations. MISSION VPAP was intended to be a short-lived demonstration project with seed funding by the VPAP connects Virginians to nonpartisan state’s five largest newspapers. The idea was to show information about Virginia politics in easily understood ways. state policymakers how electronic disclosure works. VPAP’s stated goal was to put itself out of business. STAFF But it didn’t work out. David M. Poole Executive Director People who had discovered the site urged us to Ric Arenstein stick around. Donors began to step forward. By 1999, the VPAP Board of Development Director Directors had begun to start thinking about the future. Richard Borean As we begin our third decade, VPAP faces the challenge of remaining true Marketing Director to our nonpartisan mission at a time when our state and nation are divided Jason Kostyk politically. Data Developer Ali Mislowsky We are sustained by the friends – listed throughout these pages – who VaNews Coordinator understand that Virginia is fortunate to have a unique service that provides a Shelly Poole common, trusted body of facts available to all. Office Manager Thanks to you, VPAP remains a strong and independent voice for those who CONTACT seek a window into Virginia politics. Phone: (804) 353-4300 Headquarters CELEBRATING 1209 E. Cary Street, Suite 200 Richmond, Virginia 23219 Mailing Address YEARS P.O. Box 1472, Richmond, VA 23218 Nicole Riley The Virginia Public Access Project is a 503(c)(3) tax-exempt 1997-2017 VPAP BOARD CHAIR corporation. All donations to VPAP are deductible on federal taxes to the full extent of the law. Federal Tax ID 54-1825691. vpap.org VPAP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nicole Riley, Chuck James, Jack Harris, Jeff Britt Matthew Calkins Tom Cosgrove Margaret Edds Ross Grogg Jeff Mitchell Chair Vice Chair/ Treasurer McGuireWoods Appian Newport News Retired Journalist Kemper Mitchell Law Firm Secretary NFIB Virginia Trial Consulting Shipbuilding Consulting Williams Mullen Lawyers Assoc. Kenton Ngo Albert Pollard Larry Roberts Ann Rust Ed Scott Nancy Smith Todd Stottlemyer Cathie Vick Deborah Wyld Progressive Consultant, Venable LLP Community Environmental Middle Resolution Inova Center for Port of Virginia Retired/Norfolk Change Campaign Sawmill Leader Sciences Personalized Health Southern Committee Manufacturer Foundation 2 VPAP ADVANCES CIVICS EDUCATION One of VPAP’s strategic goals is to make Virginia politics accessible to a broader audience. What better place to start than in the classroom? In June, 10 civics teachers from across the commonwealth gathered in Williamsburg to participate in a two-day conference. The event was hosted by the College of William and Mary. The teachers came away with a sheaf of creative ideas for incorporating VPAP graphics into their lesson plans. And VPAP staff left with some great suggestions for making vpap.org more accessible to teenagers on the cusp of voting age. 20 YEARS OF TRANSPARENCY 1997- Assists State Board 2001 of Elections to design e-filing software for candidates. Launches first online Expands database of state database to campaign donors. include campaign expenditures. 3 The Virginia Public Access Project is a nonprofit that relies on support from its users. VPAP would 2017 SUPPORTERS like to thank the following financial contributors. (Donors to VaNews listed on Page 8.) S. Sonjia Smith Mimi Abel Smith Eckert Seamans $50,000 Thomas G. Snead Jr. Virginia Association for Commercial Enterprise Rent-a-Car The Mousetrap Foundation David G. Speck Real Estate Genworth Financial Todd A. Stottlemyer Virginia Press Association Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle PC $25,000 TowneBank Sen. Mark R. Warner Independent Insurance Agents of TowneBank Richmond Virginia Ronald D. Abramson Transurban $2,000 Inova Health System The Virginian-Pilot* Luck Stone Corporation AT&T $15,000 John Watkins Mercer Trigiani LLP Matt Benedetti William M. Backer Foundation Micron Technology Inc. Matthew Calkins Josée G. Covington* June A. Williams Reynolds American Inc. Tom Hirst The Daily Press John O. Wynne Riverside Health System William A. Olson* Jeannemarie and Tom Davis M. Dendy Young Sentara Healthcare Edward H. Rice* Catherine Hammer Virginia Association of Counties Paul Hirschbiel Jr. $4,000 Virginia Association of Health Plans $12,000 McShin Foundation Virginia Cable Telecom Association LoanMax Medical Society of Virginia Dominion Energy Virginia Tech McGuireWoods Consulting Northern Virginia Association of Allison Weinstein and Ivan Jecklin WestRock Troutman Sanders Realtors* Woody Funeral Home $10,000 Virginia Automobile Dealers Dawn and Stuart Siegel Association Virginia Commonwealth University $1,000 Leslie Cheek III Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Virginia AFL-CIO* Barbara Fried Association Virginia Education Association Associated Press Marvin W. Gilliam Jr. Williams Mullen Virginia Municipal League Atlantic Dominion Distributors Loren W. Hershey Robert W. Bailie M. Yaqub Mirza $3,000 $1,500 Frank B. Bradley III John M. Toups R. Bruce Bradley Appalachian Power Company Allen Allen Allen & Allen* Verizon Breeden Company Capital Results Ric Arenstein* The Washington Post* Daniel M. Brody Frank E. Laughon Jr Donald S. Beyer Jr.* Charlottesville Tomorrow Frances A. Lewis* The Dragas Companies $7,500 C. Daniel Clemente Gil Minor HCA Virginia Hospitals Thomas Connally III Comcast Old Dominion Electric Cooperative Kotarides Developers LLC CSX Corporation Smithfield Foods* Praxis Foundation William H. Leighty Richard Cullen Michael J. Quillen* John Macfarlane III Tom DePasquale $5,000 Bobbie and Jim Ukrop* Michael Morency* Dewberry Virginia Association of Realtors Mark Ohrstrom Altria Group* Charlie Diradour Ann Rust* Amazon W. Heywood Fralin $2,500 SunTrust Foundation Hon. Gerald L. and Mrs. Robin D. Baliles GEICO Virginia Bankers Association Jay Barrows Deloitte Catherine S. Read and Tom Greeson Virginia Dental Association John H. Birdsall III Dan Gecker Jack L. Harris Virginia Health Care Association* Al Dwoskin John T. Hazel Jr. Hilton Worldwide Virginia Trial Lawyers Association* Margaret and Shashikant Gupta E. Scott Kasprowicz James Hixon Robert R. Hatten Anne and David Long $1,400 Hopkins Family Foundation James W. Hazel J. Granger Macfarlane Hon. Bill Howell Joan M. Huffer and Robert H. Dugger Vince Mastracco Anthem Bobbie Kilberg Harry T. Lester Northern Virginia Electric Apartment & Office Building David King Ivor Massey Jr. Cooperative Association Alan Kirshner W. Sheppard Miller III Susan and Lewis F. Payne Jr. Bon Secours Virginia Mary Lynn & Nick Kotz Claude Moore Charitable Foundation Scott C. Plein Columbia Gas of Virginia Aubrey Layne* Bittle Porterfield The Roanoke Times Commonwealth Strategy Group Cheryl P. McLeskey The Richmond Times-Dispatch* Wendy and Tom Rosenthal Thomas J. Cosgrove * Gave more than amount listed 20 YEARS OF TRANSPARENCY 2002- 2006 Expands database to Leads bipartisan effort to include lawmakers’ bring voluntary disclosure to personal financial statewide bond referendums. disclosures. Tracks money in local races in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William. 4 Thomas Meehan Metis Services Inc. VPAP LEADERSHIP COUNCIL Jeff Mitchell Mary and Clarke Ohrstrom The Leadership Council is composed of business and community leaders who provide invaluable Deborah Oswalt Patten Wornom Hatten & Diamonstein* counsel to VPAP and who donate at least $5,000 annually. Nicholas Perrins Del. Kenneth R. Plum $10,000 Evans Poston Reed Smith Lawrence Roberts* Gilbert Rosenthal Sally & Walter Rugaber Andrew and Virginia Tilton University of Virginia Virginia Beverage Association Virginia Chamber of Commerce Ronald D. Matthew Leslie Barbara Marvin Loren W. Virginia Credit Union League Abramson Calkins Cheek III Fried Gilliam Hershey VA, MD & DE Association of Electric Washington, DC Arlington Warrenton Crozet Bristol Oakton Cooperatives Virginia Wine Wholesalers Association The Virginian-Pilot Volkswagen Group of America Inc.* Walling Distributing Company Judy Ford Wason John D. Whitlock Tom M. Yaqub William Edward H. John M. $750 Hirst Mirza Olson Rice Toups Alexandria Herndon Woodbridge Vienna McLean Adams Construction Company Margaret Edds* $5,000 Jean and Bob Kane Jeffrey Merriman John G. Milliken George L. Ohrstrom II* Omega Protein Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance Deborah Wyld Robert G. Al Dwoskin Margaret Bobby James W. Joan Ivan $700 Aston Jr. McLean Gupta Hatten Hazel Huffer Jecklin Portsmouth Reston Newport News Charlottesville Alexandria Henrico AAA Tidewater Virginia Advantus Strategies Alliance Group Carilion Clinic Chesapeake Bay Foundation College of William and Mary Community Associations Institute Council of Independent Colleges in Harry T. Ivor W. Sheppard Bittle S. Sonjia Thomas G. David G. Virginia Lester Massey Miller III Porterfield Smith Snead Jr. Speck Elwood Consulting Virginia Beach Richmond Virginia Beach Roanoke Charlottesville Richmond Alexandria EQT George Mason University Hefty Wiley & Gore Kemper Consulting Newport News Shipbuilding NFIB Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Todd John Watkins Allison June John O. M. Dendy Stottlemyer Midlothian Weinstein Williams Wynne Young Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC Oakton Henrico Springfield Virginia Beach McLean 20 YEARS OF TRANSPARENCY 2007- 2010 Begins work on redistricting maps detailing