Kaine to Keep Warner's Staff Chief

[Judi Lynn]

Kaine to Keep Warner's Staff Chief
Va. Governor-Elect Vowed Continuity With Current Administration

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 16, 2005; Page B08

RICHMOND, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Gov.-elect Timothy M. Kaine (D) plans to announce Thursday that he has tapped his predecessor's chief of staff to stay on in the new administration, according to two sources close to the gubernatorial transition.

Kaine has asked William H. Leighty, a veteran bureaucrat and a highly praised manager, to reprise the role he played for Gov. Mark R. Warner (D). Leighty has accepted, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Kaine had not announced the decision.

The pick is Kaine's first public decision since he defeated Republican Jerry W. Kilgore one week ago. It suggests Kaine plans to govern the same way he ran for office: as if his term is the second term that Warner is barred by law from having.

"Kaine made a promise in the campaign that he would maintain continuity with the Warner administration," said Mark Rozell, a professor of politics at George Mason University. "People will say he's keeping that promise."
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/15/AR2005111501462.html?nav=rss_metro

[LostinVA]

1. Very smart