Viola Baskerville
Encyclopedia
Viola Baskerville served as Secretary of Administration in the Cabinet of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
from 2006 to 2010.
She was born in Richmond, Virginia
. Her educational background includes a B.A. from the College of William and Mary earned in 1973, and a law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law
earned in 1979. Furthermore she also studied abroad on a Fulbright Fellowship
in Bonn
, Germany
.
Prior to her appointment as Secretary of Administration, she served on the Richmond City Council from 1994 to 1997, including a stint as the city's Vice Mayor under then-Mayor Tim Kaine. Following her tenure as Vice Mayor, she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates
, serving from 1998 to 2005. In 2005, she became the first African-American woman to seek the Democratic Party
nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
, coming in second place in the four-way primary behind State Senator Leslie L. Byrne
, but ahead of State Delegate Chap Petersen
, and State Senator Phillip Puckett
. Following the 2005 general election, she served as Co-chair of Governor Kaine's Transition Team.
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
from 2006 to 2010.
She was born in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Her educational background includes a B.A. from the College of William and Mary earned in 1973, and a law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
earned in 1979. Furthermore she also studied abroad on a Fulbright Fellowship
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Prior to her appointment as Secretary of Administration, she served on the Richmond City Council from 1994 to 1997, including a stint as the city's Vice Mayor under then-Mayor Tim Kaine. Following her tenure as Vice Mayor, she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
, serving from 1998 to 2005. In 2005, she became the first African-American woman to seek the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The office is currently held by Republican William T. Bolling. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected...
, coming in second place in the four-way primary behind State Senator Leslie L. Byrne
Leslie L. Byrne
Leslie Byrne is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia, and was the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress from the Commonwealth of Virginia...
, but ahead of State Delegate Chap Petersen
Chap Petersen
John Chapman "Chap" Petersen is an American politician. A Democrat, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates 2002–06 and was elected to the Virginia State Senate in November 2007. He the state's 34th district, made up of the city of Fairfax and part of Fairfax County.-Early...
, and State Senator Phillip Puckett
Phillip Puckett
Phillip P. Puckett is an American politician. A Democrat, he was elected to the Senate of Virginia in 1997. He the 38th district, made up of five counties and parts of four others in the southwestern part of the state.In 2005, Puckett ran for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
. Following the 2005 general election, she served as Co-chair of Governor Kaine's Transition Team.