Shannon Valentine

Shannon Rutter Valentine (born January 31, 1959) is currently serving as the Secretary of Transportation for Virginia.  She was appointed Secretary of Transportation by Governor Ralph Northam in January 2018, and oversees a $5 billion multimodal transportation system crossing seven agencies with more than 10,000 employees.  As Secretary, she also serves as Chair of the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB).  Valentine served previously in the Virginia House of Delegates 2006–2010, representing the 23rd district, made up of the city of Lynchburg, Virginia and part of Amherst County, serving on the House Transportation and Courts of Justice Committees.  Following an assignment as a Director of the Transportation Policy Council in 2013 for then Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe’s transition team, Valentine was appointed as the Lynchburg District representative to the CTB in May 2014.  During this time, she created the first Regional Connectivity Study in Virginia that correlated transportation decisions with workforce, business expansion and recruitment and investment, covering eight modes of transportation.  Her legislative priorities focused on transportation, economic development, education, and ethics.  She led bipartisan efforts to create transparent government, expand clean energy production, and invest in intercity passenger rail service for the first time in Virginia’s history.  She is a member of the Democratic Party. 

Legislation 
Valentine’s legislative priorities included economic development, education, ethics in government, and health.  She led the bipartisan, legislative effort to invest in intercity rail for the first time in Virginia’s history, resulting in the Northeast Regional Rail Service.  The NE Regional is the second fastest-growing rail line with the best record of cost-recovery in the United States.  Her legislative record includes the creation of the first comprehensive study of Autism Services in Virginia, the establishment of the Economic Development Authority, and the granting of authority to localities to create Arts and Culture Districts for economic revitalization.  In addition, Valentine focused on ethics in government through consistent sponsorship of a Bipartisan Redistricting Commission, and the transparency of recorded votes. 

During her terms, Valentine served on the committees of Courts of Justice, Transportation, Science and Technology, and Judicial Review.  She was appointed by Governor Timothy Kaine to serve on the Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council, the lead agency that manages early intervention for infants and children. 

Electoral history

Virginia Secretary of Transportation
"Shannon Valentine was appointed Secretary of Transportation by Governor Ralph Northam in January 2018, and oversees a $5 billion multimodal transportation system crossing seven agencies with more than 10,000 employees.  As Secretary, she also serves as Chair of the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB)." 

Personal life
Valentine was born in Wilmington, Delaware and is married to Dr. Carl Michael Valentine.  They have three children: Catherine, Jack, and Brooke. " She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Virginia in economics.  She graduated from the Sorensen Institute at UVA, and completed Education for Ministry, a four-year theology course through Sewanee University’s School of Theology."  

"Valentine was named 2017 Transportation Woman of the Year by WTS Central Virginia Chapter.  She has been honored with the Humanitarian Award by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, Democracy in Action Award by the League of Women Voters, Freedom Fighter Award by the NAACP, Woman of the Year in Government by the YWCA, and the Commonwealth Autism Services Award." 

References

External links

Project Vote Smart - Representative Shannon R. Valentine (VA) profile
Follow the Money - Shannon R. Valentine
2007

Category:1959 births
Category:Living people
Category:Members of the Virginia House of Delegates
Category:Women state legislators in Virginia
Category:Virginia Democrats
Category:University of Virginia alumni
Category:Sewanee: The University of the South alumni
Category:Politicians from Lynchburg, Virginia
Category:People from Wilmington, Delaware
Category:21st-century American politicians
Category:21st-century American women politicians