Former state health commissioner Karen Remley endorses Terry McAuliffe for governor

Karen Remley, former health commissioner to Virginia Govs. Tim Kaine (D) and Bob McDonnell (R), announced her support for Terry McAuliffe for governor on Friday.

“Ken Cuccinelli has put his own personal agenda ahead of the interests of the Commonwealth and overstepped his role as Attorney General. Virginia needs a governor who will take a mainstream approach to tackling the issues Virginians care about,” said Remley. “Terry will be a governor who lets medical professionals and Virginia’s men and women make their own health care decisions, and will focus on what we need, like creating jobs here in the Commonwealth, improving our infrastructure, and keeping Virginia’s families healthy and safe.  Terry understands the importance of supporting Medicaid expansion.”

Remley was appointed Virginia Health Commissioner in 2008 by Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine, and stayed on to serve Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell. After strict abortion clinic building code regulations were forced through the Virginia Board of Health by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, Remley resigned from her post in October 2012. In a letter to colleagues announcing her resignation, Remley commented that Cuccinelli’s actions, “created an environment in which my ability to fulfill my duties is compromised and in good faith can no longer serve in my role.”

“I am honored to have Karen’s support for governor,” stated McAuliffe. “Like Karen, I will work with both sides of the aisle to ensure that Virginia remains a state where companies can start and grow, and that our workforce is equipped for the jobs of the future.”

Remley’s endorsement comes on the heels of the recent closure of a Norfolk women’s health clinic—the first of the state’s 20 clinic’s that have begun to feel the effects of Cuccinelli’s regulations.