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Mims helps lead McDonnell transition team
Governor-elect Bob McDonnell is wasting no time preparing for his new job.By 8 p.m. election night, the results were showing the Republican had handily defeated Democrat R. Creigh Deeds.
Instead of celebrating, McDonnell convened the first meeting of his official transition team at 11 p.m. that same night.
One of the co-chairmen of that team is William C. Mims, a former Loudoun state senator and delegate.
Mims served as McDonnell's chief deputy when the governor-elect was attorney general; he took over as attorney general earlier this year when McDonnell resigned to focus on the campaign.
Mims said the team has worked several 16-hour days since McDonnell was elected.
He described McDonnell as disciplined, very much wanting to accomplish what he promised in the campaign.
“There is truly no rest for the weary,” Mims said.
Joining Mims on the team as co-chairmen are Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, Dominion Power President and CEO Thomas Farrell, Northern Virginia Technology Council President Bobbie Kilberg and former Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Kay Coles James.
Mims said each brings different skills to the table that are helping the transition.
One of the major tasks facing the transition team is recommending names for the 11 secretary positions in McDonnell's Cabinet. These positions include the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. All of those Cabinet members must be in place and ready to begin work when McDonnell takes office Jan. 16.
The transition team also will be helping McDonnell familiarize himself with the fiscal 2011 budget that outgoing Gov. Tim Kaine will present before McDonnell takes office.
Mims said Kaine and McDonnell have a good relationship since as attorney general, McDonnell served as Kaine's lawyer for several years.
That good relationship is helping the transition even though the two are from different political parties.
“Despite that there are partisan differences, I expect that the transition will proceed smoothly,” Mims said.
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