Newsroom Archive for 1/13, 2006

Sorensen graduates continue to make history. Kate Berger, an alumna of the Candidate Training Program Class of 2003 and the Danville-Southside Leaders Program Class of 2001, was recently elected Chair of the Pittsylvania County Board of Superivsors. Kate is the first woman ever to serve in that position.

You can read about Kate's historic election victory here and here.

Tim Kaine, Virginia's 70th Governor

A number of alumni of the Sorensen Institute will be serving in critical, high-ranking positions on Governor Tim Kaine's staff.

Larry Roberts, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2001, will serve as Counselor to the Governor. Roberts currently serves as Co-Chair of the Transition Committee and was Chairman of Governor-elect Kaine’s gubernatorial campaign.

Brian Shepard, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 1999, will serve as Policy Director. Shepard previously served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Felix Sarfo-Katanka, Jr., a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2004, will serve as Special Assistant to the Governor for Policy. Sarfo-Katanka previously served as Legislative Assistant to Delegate Franklin P. Hall, the House Minority Leader.

Marc Cheatham, a member of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2006, will serve as Director of Constituent Services.  Cheatham served as Director of Constituent Services in the Transition Office and was a research analyst on Governor-elect Kaine’s gubernatorial campaign.

Steven Gould, a member of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2006, will serve as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor for Policy. Gould previously served as Special Assistant for Policy for Governor Warner.

Alfonso Lopez, a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2003, will serve as Director of the Virginia Liason Office in Washington, D.C.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the date has at last been set for the special election in the 97th District to replace Ryan McDougle, who will be moving over to the Senate to represent the 4th District. The election will be held on Tuesday, January 24. Republican and Sorensen alumnus Chris Peace, PLP 2004, will be vying for that seat against Democrat John Montgomery. Good luck to both candidates.

We celebrate the continued achievement and contributions of our alumni,
board members, and staff--the following of whom have been recently
named to these boards and commissions by Virginia Governor Mark Warner:

The Honorable Janet D. Howell of Reston, Senator from the 32nd District
in the Virginia Senate and a member of the Sorensen Institute's State
Board of Directors was appointed to the P-16 Education Council.

Darius A. Johnson of Richmond, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending
Officer of the Consolidated Brank & Trust Co. and a graduate of the
Political Leaders Program Class of 2004, was appointed to the Virginia
Board for People with Disabilities.

Sean Kumar of Alexandria, Judicial Law Clerk for the Arlington County
Circuit Court, and a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of
2005, was reappointed to the Virginia Recycling Markets Development
Council.

Edda Collins of Fairfax, Program Manager of Professional Education and
Meetings for America's Health Insurance Plans, and a graduate of the
Political Leaders Program Class of 2005, was appointed to the Board of
Trustees of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation.

Coy Barefoot of Charlottesville, Director of Communications and Alumni
Relations for the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the
University of Virginia, was appointed to the State Historical Records
Advisory Board.

Thad Jones of Richmond, retired police officer from the City of
Richmond Police Department and a retired warrant officer from the U.S.
Army Reserves after 30 years of service, and a graduate of the
Political Leaders Program Class of 2005, was appointed to the
Governor's Commission on Community and National Service as well as to
the Board of Veterans Services.

The Honorable Constance Brennan of Faber, a member of the Nelson County
Board of Supervisors, and a graduate of the Political Leaders Program
Class of 2005, was appointed to the Virginia Geographic Information
Network Advisory Board.

Richard A. Cabellos of Aldie, Project Coordinator for 21st Century
Community Learning Centers in the Office of Partnerships for Fairfax
County, and a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2004,
was appointed to the Latino Advisory Board.

Leni Gonzalez of Arlington, Policy Analyst with the Department of Motor
Vehicles, and a graduate of the Political Leaders Program Class of
2001, was appointed to the Latino Advisory Board.

Carlos Soles of Arlington, Chairman of the Bolivar Network, the Latino
Alumni Association of the University of Virginia and a member of the
Political Leaders Program Class of 2006, was appointed to the Latino
Advisory Board.

Andres Tobar of Arlington, Executive Director of the Shirlington
Employment and Education Center, and a graduate of the Political
Leaders Program Class of 2002, was appointed to the Latino Advisory
Board.

Michel Zajur of Midlothian, President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Sorensen
Institute State Board of Directors, was appointed to the Latino
Advisory Board.