Northam names former legislator secretary of transportation

Published December 13, 2017 by Robert Powell, III

Gov.-elect Ralph Northam has named Shannon Valentine, a member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board and a former legislator, as his secretary of transportation.

Quintin Elliott will be deputy secretary, and Stephen Brich will be commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Two current state transportation officials will continue serving in their current roles.

Nicholas Donohue will remain deputy secretary and director of the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment.

Jennifer Mitchell likewise will continue as director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

Valentine represents the Lynchburg district on the state transportation board. She was as co-director for Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s Transition Council for Transportation Policy when he was governor-elect.

Valentine represented the 23rd district in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2010.

Elliot was named chief deputy commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) by McAuliffe in 2014. He served previously as the Fredericksburg District administrator.

Brich is a vice president with Kimley-Horn and Associates focusing on transportation-related matters in Virginia. Prior to joining Kimley-Horn, he served in several senior roles with VDOT.