McDonnell to step down as AG
Bob McDonnell is resigning as attorney general of Virginia effective Feb. 20 to devote his attention full-time to his pursuit of the governorship.
“Personally this was a very difficult decision to make, but it is the right one for our Commonwealth,” said McDonnell, the presumptive Republican Party nominee for governor, in an announcement in Richmond Tuesday morning. “A campaign for governor demands a full-time candidate. The Office of the Attorney General is the Commonwealth’s law firm and demands a full-time attorney general. Historically Democratic and Republican attorneys general have stepped down from this post in order to run for governor. It is the right and proper thing to do,” McDonnell said.
The last three GOP nominees for governor – Jerry Kilgore in 2005, Mark Earley in 2001 and Jim Gilmore in 1997 – were all elected attorneys general who stepped down prior to the end of their terms to pursue campaigns for governor. Mary Sue Terry, the last elected Democrat to serve as attorney general, stepped down from the post in 1993 to run for governor that year.
McDonnell was elected in 2005 in a tight race with Bath County Democrat Creigh Deeds, who is running for the Democratic Party nomination for governor this year.
McDonnell said today that he will ask the General Assembly to appoint his chief deputy, Bill Mims, a former Republican state senator from Northern Virginia, to be his successor.
- Story by Chris Graham
Related posts:
- Bolling takes shots at McDonnell on way out of governor’s race Column by Chris Graham newdominion@ntelos.net Maybe it’s just me, but I thought I heard something in Bill Bolling’s comments yesterday about his decision regarding the...
- McDonnell aiming at top job Story by Chris Graham newdominion@ntelos.net Bill Bolling wanted to talk around the issue of whether or not he plans to run for governor in 2009....
- Moran leads McDonnell, according to poll And the winner is … Brian Moran. OK, so he’s the leader on his way to the first tee. Moran is the only one of...
- Virginia Government: McDonnell announces AG office cuts to respond to budget shortfall Story by Chris Graham freepress2@ntelos.net Bob McDonnell announced today that he is cutting spending in his Attorney General’s Office by 9.1 percent and is reducing...
- White House ’08: McDonnell talks up McCain, energy issues in ’08 race Story by Chris Graham freepress2@ntelos.net Attorney General Bob McDonnell is applying for another job next year, as you might have heard. But first things first....
Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe today released the following statement in response to Bob McDonnell’s announcement that he is stepping down as Attorney General to run for governor.
“I welcome Bob McDonnell to the governor’s race. Virginia is in the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and our working families are struggling to make ends meet. There is no single issue facing our commonwealth today that is more important than getting our economy back on track, and I believe the race for governor will be about who has the right experience to grow our economy. I look forward to comparing records and debating the issues with Bob.”
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) today commented on the announcement by Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell of his resignation, effective February 20, 2009:
“Bob McDonnell is a strong, principled leader with common sense ideas and practical solutions to problems that people care about as well as an impressive track record of bipartisan legislative success that has helped make Virginia better, safer and more prosperous,” said Speaker Howell.
“I was pleased to serve with Bob in the House of Delegates for many years and to work closely with him the past four as Attorney General. Name almost any major issue – crime, education, welfare, strengthening families, transportation or jobs and economic growth – that Virginians have grappled with over the past 15 years and Bob McDonnell was there, leading with conviction, championing policy innovations and demonstrating a genuine willingness to work collaboratively for the future of Virginia.
“Bob McDonnell is a man of character who has served the citizens of the Commonwealth ably and effectively as their Attorney General. I thank him for his distinguished service and wish him and all of his family continued success.”
Delegate Jeffrey M. Frederick, Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia offered his congratulations and well-wishes today to Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell as he prepares to step down from office to focus full-time on his campaign for governor.
“Bob McDonnell has done an outstanding job serving the people of the Commonwealth as our 44th Attorney General. As a veteran member of the House of Delegates where I served with him, or as our Attorney General, no one has fought harder to protect children, to stand for consumers, fight animal cruelty, defend property rights or assist the less-abled, than Bob. Virginia is a safer, stronger, more prosperous place because of his efforts,” Frederick said.
“Bob’s achievements in office are numerous, and the high popularity he enjoys among Virginians statewide is a testament to his ability to work for the good of the people, irrespective of politics. We look forward to doing all we can to make sure Bob continues to serve the people of Virginia as our next Governor.”
C. Richard Cranwell, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, released the following statement on Tuesday in response to Bob McDonnell’s announcement that he is resigning as Attorney General.
“Just as Jim Gilmore, Mark Earley and Jerry Kilgore all left their posts as Attorney General to run for Governor, we welcome Mr. McDonnell’s announcement that he is officially resigning to campaign full-time.
“As a full-time candidate, Mr. McDonnell will have plenty of time to answer Virginians about why he repeatedly stood in the way of the progress that Governor Kaine and Governor Warner have made over the last seven years.
“This November, Virginians will have a clear choice between continuing to move our commonwealth forward and going back to the Gilmore era of gimmicks and stagnation. The three Democratic gubernatorial candidates have all laid out forward-thinking plans to create jobs, stimulate the economy and continue the progress we’ve made under Governors Kaine and Warner.
“Mr. McDonnell, on the other hand, has announced no plans to create jobs in Virginia, laying out a 13-part legislative agenda that creates zero jobs. This comes as little surprise from an Attorney General who opposed transportation solutions and admitted that he had no ‘particular plan or vision’ on building much-needed roads.
“Now that Mr. McDonnell is a full-time candidate, we look forward to hearing him expand upon his ideas. We look forward to a spirited campaign over the next nine months, during which Virginians will see the significant differences between the Democratic candidates and Mr. McDonnell.”
I know and support Bob McDonnell for Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has been a solid Attorney General and will work just as hard to serve the people of Virginia as our next governor. With my friend Bill Mims at the helm as AG, the people of Virginia will remain in good, capable hands. I wish both gentlemen the best as we move forward.