The elephants have arrived ... inauguration team announced

The party planners have been selected ... the date has been chosen ... the venue has been booked. The elephants have arrived ... it's time to celebrate!

Virginia Governor-elect Bob McDonnell announced today the Co-Chairs for his upcoming inauguration as the 71st Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Inaugural Co-Chairs will serve as ambassadors for the Inaugural Celebration. The 2010 inauguration will return to Richmond for the first time since 2002. The 2006 inauguration of current Virginia governor Timothy M. Kaine was held in Colonial Williamsburg due to renovations to the State Capitol which were underway at the time. The inauguration will take place on Saturday, January 16th.

Inauguration co-chairs are listed below:

Richard Gilliam
Gilliam is founder and President of Cumberland Resources Corporation and a leader in the coal mining industry. Additionally he and his wife, Leslie, have focused their energy and resources on healthcare, education and the arts throughout Virginia.

Sheila Johnson
Johnson is a local Middleburg business owner and a noted philanthropist and entrepreneur. She is CEO of Salamander Hospitality and is the only African-American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams.

Fred Malek
Malek is Founder and Chairman of Thayer Capital Partners and Thayer Lodging Group, former President of Marriott and Northwest Airlines and served as an assistant to Presidents George H.W. Bush and Richard Nixon. He also serves on a number of charitable and educational Boards, including the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, the Aspen Institute, the America-Israel Friendship League, and the American Friends of the Czech Republic.

Jerry Kilgore
Kilgore served as Attorney General of Virginia from 2002-2005 and was Secretary of Public Safety in the Allen Administration. He is currently a partner and chair of Williams Mullen’s Multistate Corporate Compliance & Public Policy Group.

Susan Allen
Allen served as First Lady of Virginia from 1994-1998 during her husband’s tenure as the Commonwealth’s 67th Governor. She established the First Lady’s Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative and has continued her efforts with cancer related issues as well as other issues including tourism promotion and international affairs.

Ed Gillespie
Gillespie is founder of Ed Gillespie Strategies in Alexandria and volunteered as General Chairman for McDonnell for Governor. He served as Counselor to President George W. Bush during the last 18 months of the Bush Administration and is former Chairman of both the Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of Virginia.