Today
Program:
Speaker: The
Honorable Mark R. Warner, Governor of Virginia
Since his inauguration in January 2002, Governor Mark R. Warner
has taken a business-like approach to reforming government services and
spending, navigating Virginia through a $6 billion revenue shortfall, and making
choices and investments in education from pre-school to graduate school. Under
Governor Warner's leadership, Virginia was one of a handful of states in the
nation that actually increased funding for schools this year. Governor Warner
serves in a leadership role in several national organizations. This summer, the
Governor was selected by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the National
Governors Association. He has served for two years as States' Co-Chairman of the
Appalachian Regional Commission, and recently completed a term as Chairman of
the Southern Governors' Association and the Education Commission of the States,
a national nonpartisan policy organization. Governor Warner also serves as
Chairman of the Education Commission of the States, a national nonpartisan
policy organization.
In 2003, the Governor and the General Assembly worked in a bipartisan way to
enact a government reform agenda, which has been described as the most sweeping
reform of state government in a generation. The plan brings changes in the way
the state delivers mental health, workforce development, and veterans care
services.
In the fall of 2002, Governor Warner led a statewide campaign to secure more
than $1 billion in bonds for investments in higher education, cultural
facilities, and state parks and recreation areas. Before he became
governor, Governor Warner had a successful business career in venture capital.
He helped found the Virginia Health Care Foundation, which has provided health
care to more than 476,000 underserved Virginians in rural and urban areas.
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Governor Warner graduated from George
Washington University in 1977 and from Harvard Law School in 1980. He served as
chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia from 1993 to 1995. Governor Warner is
married to Lisa Collis and is the father of three daughters — Madison, Gillian,
and Eliza.
Invocation offered by: Martha
Madeira
