Janet Vestal Kelly

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Janet Vestal Kelly
EMS Awards - Youngkin, Vestal Kelly, and Lindsay (cropped).jpg
Vestal Kelly in 2025
16th Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources
Assumed office
July 8, 2024
Children3
Education Liberty University (BA)
Signature Janet Vestal Kelly signature.png

Janet Vestal Kelly (born February 16, 1976) is an American civil servant serving as the Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources since 2024. She previously served as the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 2010 through 2014 as part of the cabinet of Governor Bob McDonnell. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

he previously served as Chief Operations Officer of McDonnell's gubernatorial campaign and on his staff in the Attorney General's office. [3] During McDonnell's federal corruption trial, Kelly served as a key witness for the defense. [4] [5]

Kelly currently serves as Principal & Director of Government Relations for America's Kids Belong, as well as President of Virginia's Kids Belong, organizations devoted to uniting government, faith-based, creative, and business sectors to end the foster care & adoption crisis in the US. [6]

Personal life

Kelly married Robert Keith Polarek on August 9, 1997. [7] The two later divorced, and Kelly married Ryan Patrick Kelly in 2012.

References

  1. Profile, nbc12.com; accessed January 4, 2017.
  2. "Bob McDonnell's cabinet". 30 January 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2017 via washingtonpost.com.
  3. "Governor-elect McDonnell announces transition staff". 7 November 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  4. Weisman, Jonathan; Maguire, Ken (18 August 2014). "Aide Describes Staff Revolt Against Former Virginia Governor's Wife". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 June 2017 via NYTimes.com.
  5. Alter, Charlotte (20 August 2014). "Why a 'Blame the Woman' Defense Works So Well for Troubled Politicians". Time. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  6. "Virginia's Kids Belong | Every Child Needs a Loving Home". vakidsbelong.org. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  7. "Vestal-Polarek". Daily Press . August 31, 1997. p. G5. Retrieved April 20, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
2010–2014
Succeeded by