Spanberger appoints another Delegate to her cabinet to serve as Finance Secretary

There is less than a month until Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger is sworn in and the process of creating a new administration continues.

Today, Spanberger named two more members of her Cabinet including the appointment of Delegate Mark D. Sickles to be the next Secretary of Finance.

“As the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Delegate Sickles has years of experience working with both Democrats and Republicans to pass commonsense budgets that have offered tax relief for families and helped Virginia’s economy grow,” Spanberger is quoted in an information release.

Sickles has represented a portion of Fairfax County since 2004 and won re-election to District 17 in November with nearly 77.5 percent of the vote. He is currently the chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission (JLARC).

“We need to make sure every tax dollar is employed to its greatest effect for hard-working Virginians to keep tuition low, to build more affordable housing, to ensure teachers are properly rewarded for their work, and to make quality healthcare available and affordable for everyone,” Sickles is quoted in the same release.

The Secretary of Finance oversees the Department of Accounts, the Department of Planning and Budget, the Department of Taxation, and the Department of the Treasury.

Spanberger also named Traci J. Deshazor to serve as Virginia’s next Secretary of Administration.

“The Secretary of Administration is entrusted with overseeing critical functions in our Commonwealth — from making sure Virginians can exercise their right to vote to supporting the Virginians who have chosen to serve their neighbors across state government,” Spanberger said in a different release.

Deshazor has held a number of positions in state and local level government including stints as Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth under both Governor Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam. She has also been Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services in the City of Richmond.

On December 22, Spanberger appointed U.S. Army Major General Timothy P. Williams to serve as the next Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. He has served as Adjutant General of Virginia under three previous governors and retired from the U.S. Army in 2023.

“During my time in Congress, I had the honor of seeing Major General Williams’ commitment to his fellow Virginians firsthand as we worked together to support Virginia’s National Guard members,” Spanberger said.

A special election will need to be held to replace Sickles in District 17.

On January 6 there will be a special election in District 15 to fill a vacancy left with the election of Hashmi Ghazala to Lieutenant Governor. There’s a second special election in District 77 to replace Delegate Mike Jones who is the Democratic candidate in the race to replace Hashmi. (learn more)

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