The NEWS
January 05, 2009
Wagner Makes Blacksburg Visit
Jody Wagner, Democratic Primary candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, was hosted by Steve and Victoria Cochran on Sunday evening for a ‘meet and greet’ gathering. Over 50 supporters from several areas within the region were in attendance.
Steve Cochran, Montgomery County Democratic Committee Chairman, said that he was “delighted that Jody Wagner would make Montgomery one of her first campaign stops. I’m impressed with the great turnout! I think she has the credentials to be a great candidate. She has a good grasp of what is needed to continue Virginia’s progress.”
January 05, 2009
Jody Wagner for Lt. Governor of Virginia
by KathyinBlacksburg, BlueCommonwealth.com
There are many signs of positive change on the national horizon. Some, especially the Inauguration this January 20th, we can hardly wait for. One of the more hopeful signs that the change we seek may be enduring, even in Virginia, is the vibrant candidacy of Jody Wagner for Lieutenant Governor. Tonight, Montgomery County(VA) Democrats received another visit from Jody. And again, they really liked what they heard. Wagner has the resume, experience, and vision Virginia needs in its Lt. Governor.
At tonight’s event, hosted by Victoria Cochran, attendees got their enthusiasm for 2009 jump-started by Wagner, whose presentation was very enthusiastically received. From those I spoke with, one thing seems clear: Jody Wagner will not just be an outstanding Lt. Governor. She’ll also be one of, if not the, best hope for the top job in Virginia one day soon. For now, though, Jody Wagner’s strong resume, critically important experience and vision for Virginia’s future is just what the Commonwealth needs in the office of Lt. Governor. She’ll have my vote and very likely the votes of most who heard her tonight.
December 07, 2008
VIDEO: Democrats Plan to Keep Momentum in 2009 Elections
The Virginia Democrats plan on discussing the progress they’ve made in the state, as well as where the party goes from here. They say a major part of that plan is keeping their momentum for next year’s elections.
“Better ideas, better candidates and better organization. I think that has been our route to success in the past and I think that will be our secret to success in the future,” said Dick Cranwell, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia.
That’s how the Democratic Party of Virginia plans on extending the gains they made against Republicans in recent elections to next year’s Governor’s race.
December 05, 2008
Wagner Receives NoVa Endorsements
Former Finance Secretary Jody Wagner announced endorsements today from several city and county officials in Northern Virginia in her race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor next year.
“I’m honored by the support of these outstanding public officials from across Northern Virginia,” Wagner said. “Having a strong relationship between state and local officials is critical to moving Virginia forward, and as lieutenant governor will be one of my top priorities.”
December 02, 2008
Wagner Names Campaign Manager
Former Finance Secretary Jody W. Wagner announced today that she has hired Elisabeth Pearson to be her campaign manager in her bid for lieutenant governor next year.
Pearson was the campaign manager for the Democrats’ coordinated campaign this year when the party picked up three U.S. House seats and one U.S. Senate seat and Virginia voted for its first Democratic presidential candidate in more than four decades.
“Elisabeth’s leadership of the 2008 coordinated campaign was key — and her joining our campaign gives me tremendous confidence,’‘ Wagner said in a statement. “With the future of our commonwealth at stake once again in 2009, we couldn’t ask for a better campaign manager to keep our momentum.”
December 01, 2008
Rachael Ray thinks Jody's popcorn is yum-o
Rachael Ray featured Jody’s Chocolate Drizzle Popcorn, its original-recipe caramel corn drizzled with semisweet and white chocolate, on her nationally syndicated TV show as the “snack of the day.”
“Rachael Ray” airs locally at 10 a.m. weekdays on WVEC.
Jody Wagner, former Virginia secretary of finance, and her husband, Virginia Beach ophthalmologist Alan Wagner, founded Jody’s in 2005 in a shop on Laskin Road at the Oceanfront. Jody’s opened a second store, on Atlantic Avenue, this summer.
October 18, 2008
Hampton Roads Leaders Endorse Wagner (Washington Post)
Several mayors and other local elected officials from Hampton Roads today endorsed former Finance Secretary Jody W. Wagner for lieutenant governor.
“Local governments across Virginia are facing tough times in this economic climate,” Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim said. “We need strong leaders in Richmond who can maintain the fiscal discipline and strong management we’ve grown accustomed to under Governors Warner and Kaine. Jody Wagner will be that kind of leader.”
Wagner, a long time resident of Virginia Beach, served as Virginia treasurer under former governor Mark R. Warner (D) and as finance secretary under Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D). She resigned earlier this year to run for lieutenant governor.
October 07, 2008
Jody's Op-Ed: Use prudence to stimulate state's economy (Virginian Pilot)
AS THE WORLD focused on the fiscal crisis on Wall Street, Virginians recently learned that the commonwealth had not escaped the ripple effect of the national crisis. Virginia is facing a budget shortfall that could reach $3 billion over the next two years, according to official estimates.
As the former secretary of finance for the Kaine administration, I know the challenges of budget forecasting. We invest a lot of time working with elected officials of both parties, economists and business leaders, sorting through data to try to accurately predict the state’s revenues, so the governor can put together a realistic budget.
It’s not easy to forecast the future. But no one — Democrat or Republican, economist or business leader — foresaw a $3 billion shortfall.
September 21, 2008
Facebook Opens New Political Chapter
Facebook is just getting a toehold in Virginia politics. Jody Wagner, a Virginia Beach Democrat, set up a page recently to attract supporters in her bid for lieutenant governor. She has 238 so far, including one young activist who welcomed her to Facebook with the warning, “It can be pretty addicting.”
September 15, 2008
Endorsements for Wagner (Times-Dispatch)
Jody Wagner, running for the 2009 Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, is rolling out endorsements from the party rank-and-file.
Wagner, who quit last month as Gov. Tim Kaine’s finance secretary, says she has the support of six members of the Democratic Party’s steering committee, including the chairs of the 3rd and 7th congressional districts: Barbara Klear of Norfolk and Marjorie Clark of Richmond.
Those districts include Richmond and some of its suburbs.
Twenty-six members of the party’s central committee are supporting Wagner. They include two state legislators from Central Virginia: Frank Hall of Richmond and Rosalyn Dance of Petersburg.
September 07, 2008
Wagner Picking Up the Pace (Washington Post)
Although she got into the race just a month ago, former Finance Secretary Jody W. Wagner is accelerating her campaign for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.
Wagner has a half-dozen campaign events planned this week, focusing on local Democratic meetings in an effort to reach out to party activists. On Friday, Wagner announced she has been endorsed by 30 members of the General Assembly, including Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (Fairfax) and Sen. Charles J. Colgan (Prince William) from Northern Virginia and senators Yvonne Miller (D-Norfolk) and L. Louise Lucas (Portsmouth) from Hampton Roads.
September 05, 2008
Wagner announces endorsements (Times-Dispatch)
Jody Wagner, the former state finance secretary who quit the Kaine administration to run for lieutenant governor, is rolling out endorsements for the 2009 Democratic nomination.
Wagner, opposed by Russell County businessman John Bowerbank, is backed by nine senators and 22 delegates.
Her Senate supporters include majority leader Dick Saslaw of Fairfax, caucus chair Mary Margaret Whipple of Arlington and Chuck Colgan, the finance committee chairman from Prince William.
Among Wagner’s allies in the House are four from the Richmond-Petersburg area: Frank Hall of Richmond, Joe Morrissey of Henrico, Rosalyn Dance of Petersburg and Roz Tyler of Sussex.
August 25, 2008
Jody Wagner fills out her campaign staff
(Daily Press / The Shad Plank)
Democrat Jody Wagner, the former state Finance Secretary now running for lieutenant governor, has named several people to key posts in her campaign.
Mo Elleithee, senior adviser: Mo is no stranger to campaigns or to the Virginia press corps. He has worked on every major statewide campaign this decade. In 2000, he was a spokesman for former Sen. Chuck Robb in a losing effort to George Allen. He served in senior spokesman roles for the Mark Warner and Tim Kaine for their winning gubernatorial campaigns. Most recently, he was a spokesman for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign. And she, um, almost won.
Pete Brodnitz, pollster: He worked for Kaine’s successful campaigns for lieutenant governor and governor, and he was on board for Sen. Jim Webb’s upset bid of Allen in 2006.
August 15, 2008
Jody Wagner to seek nomination for lieutenant governor (Daily Press)
Hoping to clinch the Democratic nod, Wagner cites her years of managing finances for the state as her experience.
Jody Wagner, who helped manage money for two Democratic governors, announced plans Friday to seek the party’s nomination for lieutenant governor in 2009.
The Virginia Beach resident revealed her bid in a Web video that was e-mailed to supporters and featured on her campaign Web site, www.jodyforva.com.
Wagner’s service spans the administrations of former Gov. Mark R. Warner, who took office in 2002, and current Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.
She was Virginia treasurer from 2002-06 and secretary of finance from 2006 until she resigned earlier this month.
August 11, 2008
A crass political attack (Roanoke Times Editorial)
Virginia’s GOP chairman wasted no time leveling ridiculous charges against the outgoing finance secretary.
Don’t feel bad if you don’t recognize her name; most Virginians probably don’t, even though she worked for them for years. She was the commonwealth’s first female finance secretary under Gov. Tim Kaine. Before that, she was state treasurer in Gov. Mark Warner’s administration.
Those were tough jobs. The Warner administration dealt with a massive revenue shortfall created by his predecessor, Jim Gilmore. Now, the commonwealth faces shortfalls again as economic turmoil has created fiscal challenges in states across the country.
Throughout it all, Wagner performed admirably. Different national organizations ranked Virginia the best state for business and the best managed. The commonwealth maintains a triple-A bond rating.
GRASSROOTS ENDORSEMENTS
- Kristin Smith
- Helen Norman
- Robert Neale
- Chapix Wilson
- Mark Brooks
- Cheryl Oliver
- Frank Poynter
- Michael Powers
- Michael Novak
- Liz Bell
- Flo Seguin
- Tony Williams
- Peter Schmidt
- Paul Galley
- John LaComb
- Bradley Howard
- Marlene Woltz
- Scott Ayers
- Gaynelle Ayers
- Bill Jennings
- Patricia McNeely
- Lauralee Grim
- Carol Schrader
- Wally Timmons
- Donna Jackson
- Al Harris
- Tim Ambrosino
- Ellen Ambrosino
- Rochard Rosenblum
Obama Nomination Party
Warner Pig Roast