Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe has appointed an employee of his controversial green-car company to be Virginia’s secretary of the commonwealth.
Levar Stoney, an executive at GreenTech Automotive, a chief campaign aide to McAuliffe and former director of the state Democratic Party, will succeed Janet Vestal Kelly.
The secretary’s job is Stoney’s first government posting and includes by far his widest range of responsibilities. He will oversee an office that has 30 employees. The Cabinet-level position pays $155,849 annually.
Officials said both figures could change under the McAuliffe administration.
Coming off Creigh Deeds‘ unsuccessful 2009 gubernatorial campaign, where he served as political director, Stoney was director of public and government affairs for McAuliffe’s GreenTech Automotive from May 2010 to December 2012. His departure from the electric car company coincided with the time the firm said McAuliffe stepped down as chairman. Stoney was McAuliffe’s deputy campaign manager.
Duties of the secretary of the commonwealth include managing extraditions, clemency petitions, service of process, restoration of voting rights, pardons, authenticating foreign adoption documents, certifying notary publics and handling lobbyist registration, disclosures and conflict-of-interest filings.
The job puts a key McAuliffe functionary in a position to do for others what McAuliffe did for Stoney. One of the key functions of the secretary, according to the office’s website, is to “assist the governor in the appointments of over 4,000 individuals to serve on Virginia’s boards and commissions.”
Kelly previously served as chief of staff and director of administration for then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell.
Cross-posted at Watchdog.org
