McDonnell names 9 appointees, including former Rep. Drake

RICHMOND

Intent on increasing charter schools in Virginia and paying teachers based on performance, Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell has named as his education secretary a school-choice advocate who shares his reform ideas.

McDonnell's pick is Gerard Robinson, the president of the pro-charter group Black Alliance for Educational Options.

In his new position, Robinson is expected to advance an agenda that at times might be at odds with the Virginia Education Association, a powerful lobby that represents thousands of teachers in state.

During a news conference Tuesday morning in the state Capitol, McDonnell characterized Robinson as someone from a disadvantaged background who, through personal experience, became passionate about the power of education.

As part of his push for charter schools, McDonnell said he and outgoing Gov. Timothy M. Kaine this week will apply for millions in federal grant money earmarked for charter schools. Virginia currently has three charter schools, with a fourth set to open soon.

"We should not have one student who does not have the ability to go to a first-class school," McDonnell said.

An official with the Virginia Education Association said the group will take a wait-and-see attitude toward Robinson.

The association supports charter schools in Virginia as long as local school divisions have the power to approve or reject applications – a policy McDonnell has strongly hinted he will push to change. The group is less keen on the concept of teacher merit pay.

"While we're not in an obstructionist position on merit pay, it's almost dumbfounding to talk about merit pay ... when we're looking at laying off teachers, furloughs for teachers and drastic cuts for funding of teachers in public schools," said Robley Jones of the Virginia Education Association. "We're got merit. We've got a lot of good teachers in Virginia, but I don't know where the pay comes from."

Stepping into one of the top transportation jobs in the new administration is Thelma Drake, who is to serve as director of the state Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

A former state and federal legislator from Norfolk, Drake comes to the job at a tense time.

A controversy is raging at Hampton Roads Transit because of millions in cost overruns for Norfolk's light-rail project and the possible embezzlement of $80,000 in bus fares from Virginia Beach. Amid mounting public pressure for his resignation, HRT chief Michael Townes this week said he will retire later this year.

In choosing Drake, McDonnell bypassed another candidate from Hampton Roads: Norfolk City Councilman W. Randy Wright, who serves on the HRT board.

During a brief phone interview Tuesday, Wright, an advocate for light rail and high-speed rail, confirmed that he was considered for the job and praised Drake's selection.

Asked how that might affect his decision on seeking another council term, Wright said he hadn't considered it.

Drake, who recently registered as a lobbyist with the state, said Tuesday that she will withdraw that registration.

McDonnell said one of the reasons he picked Drake is her knowledge of state and federal transportation issues.

In addition, he announced that state Department of Environmental Quality director David Paylor will remain in his current role.

Paylor has worked in various roles within the department since 1973 and was named its director by Kaine.

Steady and non-controversial, Paylor has served in the Warner and Gilmore administrations and is known as a quiet, bipartisan consensus-builder.

Robinson, Drake and Paylor were among nine appointees the governor -elect announced Tuesday, including several who have worked in the attorney general's office. That prompted McDonnell to joke that he's leaving the cupboard bare for the state's next chief prosecutor, Ken Cuccinelli.

One other appointee of note is Jeannemarie Davis, a former state senator, who will serve as the state's federal government liaison working out of Washington.

Meanwhile, McDonnell said his faith isn't shaken that Commerce and Labor Secretary nominee Robert Sledd will be confirmed despite questions about Sledd's plans to continue serving on three corporate boards while working for state government. Some critics have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

"We're going to find a way to work through this," McDonnell said, adding that he expects Sledd to be a member of his Cabinet.

Pilot writers Scott Harper and Harry Minium and Roanoke Times writer Michael Sluss contributed to this report.