Chris Graham | Virginia Politics Notebook

WARNER NAMES CHIEF OF STAFF: Virginia’s radical centrist junior senator has picked a Hill veteran to serve as his new chief of staff.
Luke Albee, late of the consulting firm Richetti Inc., and a long-time top aide to Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, will head up the Warner Senate staff.

“I am pleased to have someone with Luke Albee’s experience working with us in the Senate,” Warner said. “Luke has earned respect from both sides of the aisle, and he’s widely known for his ability to bring people together to create common-sense solutions.”

Albee, 48, is a graduate of the University of Vermont and earned a masters’ degree in international relations from the London School of Economics. Albee and his wife, Beth, have four children.

“Gov. Warner is well known for his bipartisan approach and his leadership skills,” Albee said. “He is absolutely determined to be a great Senator for the people of Virginia, and I look forward to working with Senator-elect Warner to help make this happen.”

SAXMAN TO SERVE ON FUTURE SUBCOMMITTEE: Staunton Republican State Del. Chris Saxman will be part of the Legislative Advisory Subcommittee of the Council on Virginia’s Future.

Saxman was invited to serve on the panel by Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat.

The Council, established in 2003, is part of a bipartisan effort in Richmond to establish long-term, results-based planning for the state government. The legislation creating the body was supported by the Virginia Cost Cutting Caucus that Saxman chairs.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the Council to continue the effort that has already begun and to continue to work to find ways that government can do a better job serving the people of the Commonwealth,” Saxman said. “The Council on Virginia’s Future is an important tool that allows us the chance to look beyond just a two-year state budget cycle, and implement strategic plans to continue to move Virginia in the right direction. I look forward to the chance to help shape those strategic plans.”

PERRIELLO TAPS TRANSITION TEAM: Can we just go ahead and call Tom Perriello the new congressman from Virginia’s Fifth District?

OK. So Perriello is moving ahead, naming his transition advisory committee, a good move considering that we’re only a few weeks away from the next session of Congress getting under way.

“With the scope of the challenges facing the Fifth District, we don’t have any time to lose in getting to work,” Perriello said. “I look forward to sitting down with local leaders from all over the district to get their suggestions as I prepare to fight for jobs and economic relief in Washington.”

Former Fifth District congressman L.F. Payne is chairing the advisory committee. Other members include State Del. Shannon Valentine, Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors member Hank Davis, Danville City Council member Rev. Larry Campbell Jr., former Martinsville mayor Kimble Reynolds Jr. and former Danville mayor E. Linwood Wright.

- Column by Chris Graham