In January 2018,Valentine was appointed Secretary of Transportation by Governor Ralph Northam.[4] As Secretary,she also serves as Chair of the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB).[4][5] She 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.[6]
Personal life
Valentine was born in Wilmington,Delaware,on January 31,1959,and is married to Carl Michael Valentine. They have three children. 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][5][9]
Awards and accolades
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.[5]
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