Shannon Valentine

Shannon Rutter Valentine (born January 31, 1959) served as the Secretary of Transportation for Virginia from 2018 to 2022. She was appointed Secretary of Transportation by Governor Ralph Northam in January 2018, and oversaw a $5 billion multimodal transportation system crossing seven agencies with more than 10,000 employees. As Secretary, she also serves as Chair of the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB). Valentine served previously in the Virginia House of Delegates 2006–2010, representing the 23rd district, made up of the city of Lynchburg, Virginia and part of Amherst County, serving on the House Transportation and Courts of Justice Committees. Following an assignment as a Director of the Transportation Policy Council in 2013 for then Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe's transition team, Valentine was appointed as the Lynchburg District representative to the CTB in May 2014. During this time, she created the first Regional Connectivity Study in Virginia that correlated transportation decisions with workforce, business expansion and recruitment and investment, covering eight modes of transportation. Her legislative priorities focused on transportation, economic development, education, and ethics. She led bipartisan efforts to create transparent government, expand clean energy production, and invest in intercity passenger rail service for the first time in Virginia's history. She is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]

Shannon Valentine
14th Virginia Secretary of Transportation
In office
January 16, 2018 – January 15, 2022
GovernorRalph Northam
Preceded byAubrey Layne
Succeeded byShep Miller
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 23rd district
In office
January 11, 2006 – January 13, 2010
Preceded byPreston Bryant
Succeeded byScott Garrett
Personal details
Born
Shannon White Rutter

(1959-01-31) January 31, 1959
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCarl Michael Valentine
ResidenceLynchburg, Virginia
Alma materUniversity of Virginia (B.A.)
Websitewww.transportation.virginia.gov

Legislation

Valentine's legislative priorities included economic development, education, ethics in government, and health. She led the bipartisan, legislative effort to invest in intercity rail for the first time in Virginia's history, resulting in the Northeast Regional Rail Service. The NE Regional is the second fastest-growing rail line with the best record of cost-recovery in the United States. Her legislative record includes the creation of the first comprehensive study of Autism Services in Virginia, the establishment of the Economic Development Authority, and the granting of authority to localities to create Arts and Culture Districts for economic revitalization. In addition, Valentine focused on ethics in government through consistent sponsorship of a Bipartisan Redistricting Commission, and the transparency of recorded votes.

During her terms, Valentine served on the committees of Courts of Justice, Transportation, Science and Technology, and Judicial Review. She was appointed by Governor Timothy Kaine to serve on the Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council, the lead agency that manages early intervention for infants and children.

Electoral history
DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 23rd district
Jan 10, 2006[2] Special Shannon R. Valentine Democratic 7,887 57.50
Michael B. Harrington Republican 5,817 42.41
Write Ins 12 0.09
Preston Bryant resigned; seat switched from Republican to Democratic
Nov 6, 2007[3] General Shannon R. Valentine Democratic 4,551 95.60
Write Ins 209 4.39
Nov 3, 2009[4] General T. Scott Garrett Republican 10,813 50.41
Shannon R. Valentine Democratic 10,604 49.44
Write Ins 31 0.14

Virginia Secretary of Transportation

In January 2018, Valentine was appointed Secretary of Transportation by Governor Ralph Northam.[5] As Secretary, she also serves as Chair of the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB).[5][6]

Personal life

Valentine was born in Wilmington, Delaware and is married to Dr. Carl Michael Valentine. They have three children: Catherine, Jack, and Brooke. Valentine graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's in economics.[7][8] She also graduated from the Sorensen Institute for Political leadership and completed an Education for Ministry certificate course through Sewanee University's School of Theology.[8][6][9]

Valentine was named 2017 Transportation Woman of the Year by WTS Central Virginia Chapter. She has also been honored with the Humanitarian Award by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, Democracy in Action Award by the League of Women Voters, Freedom Fighter Award by the NAACP, Woman of the Year in Government by the YWCA,[10] and the Commonwealth Autism Services Award.[6]

References
  1. "Virginia House of Delegates; Session 2009; Valentine, Shannon R." Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  2. "Special Election- January 10, 2006". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  3. "November 6, 2007 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  4. "November 2009 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  5. Moomaw, Graham (14 December 2017). "Northam picks former Lynchburg lawmaker Valentine as next transportation secretary". The Daily Progress. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  6. "Transportation Secretary, about". virginia.gov. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  7. Pascale, Jordan (13 December 2017). "Northam's new transportation secretary is Lynchburg-area Transportation Board member". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  8. Aratani, Lori. "Va. governor-elect Ralph Northam names his transportation team". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  9. Jones, Evan (13 December 2017). "Shannon Valentine named next Secretary of Transportation | 105.9 WLNI-FM". WLNI. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  10. Petska, Alicia (24 September 2010). "YWCA honors 11 with induction into Academy of Women". The News & Advance. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
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