As Spanberger fills out cabinet, more special elections will be needed

There is still a month left until Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger takes office but her administration is slowly filling out. A series of Cabinet appointments continued on December 11 when she named Delegate David Bulova (D-11) to serve as Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources.

“In this role, he will bring decades of experience to our efforts to strengthen our Commonwealth’s conservation, resilience, and preservation efforts,” Spanberger said in an information release.

Bulova was elected to the House of Delegates in 2005 and works as a project manager for WSP USA, an international consulting firm. In 2017 he worked for the firm Amec Foster Wallace and helped Albemarle County with planning for a stormwater utility fee that was never implemented.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with our Governor-elect, the General Assembly, and the many partners that work hard every day to fulfill the promise outlined in Virginia’s constitution ‘to protect its atmosphere, lands, and waters from pollution, impairment, or destruction, for the benefit, enjoyment, and general welfare of the people of the Commonwealth,’” the release quotes Bulova.

Bulova will resign from the General Assembly. A special election has been set for January 13. House District 11 which covers portions of Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax.

There will need to be another one to fill House District 23. Spanberger has selected Candi Mundon King to serve as Secretary of the Commonwealth. This position assists Virginia’s governor in a number of activities ranging from appointments to restoration of rights.

“Throughout my career, I have been committed to improving government accessibility and ensuring our institutions work effectively for every community. I will bring that same dedication to managing the critical functions of this office while enhancing the delivery of constituent services,” Mundon King said in a release.

Mundon King was first elected in 2021. District 23 covers parts of Prince William County and parts of Stafford County. There will be a special election on January 13, 2026.

On December 9, Spanberger appointed a new Secretary of Transportation who worked for the Virginia Department of Transportation when the Smart Scale funding process was implemented beginning in 2015.

“I’m excited to announce the appointment of Nick Donohue to serve as Virginia’s next Secretary of Transportation,” Spanberger said. “His range of experience will ensure Virginia tackles our transit challenges, improves the reliability of our networks, and prepares for new opportunities ahead.

Donohue is a veteran of three previous administrations and worked on several key initiatives such as a corridor improvement program for Interstate-81 and Transforming Rail in Virginia. He also founded a company called Transportation and Infrastructure Strategies LLC.

“Transportation is ultimately about opportunity, connecting people to jobs, education, and the communities they call home,” Donohue is quoted in a release. “I am committed to ensuring every investment we make strengthens those connections.”

Other appointments:

• Stanley Meador will serve as Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. He has a long history in law enforcement including many positions with the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
• Katie K. Frazier will serve as Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. She is currently the Chief Brand Officer for Farm Credit of the Virginias and has also been executive director of the Virginia Agribusiness Council.
• Marvin Figueroa will serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is currently a vice president at the BGR Group.

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