Bill Bolling posts Facebook status updates

Jean Ann and Bill Bolling

January 2014

Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling recently posted a status update on his public office Facebook Wall  and regular Facebook Wall that caught the attention of his supporters.

On Saturday, April 12, he wrote:

Many of my Facebook friends have asked what Jean Ann and I are doing to stay busy now that my term as Lieutenant Governor has ended. So, for the next few days I will be updating you on some of the things we are doing to stay busy in the public and private sector. Stay tuned for Part 1 tomorrow.

Update #1 - On Sunday, April 13, the first update was posted:

Here's the first update on what I've been doing since my term as LG ended. Professionally, I have returned to the private sector and taken on some new duties as Managing Director of Virginia Operations for RCM&D, one of the nation's largest independent insurance brokers. You can read more about this below. While I enjoyed public service a great deal, I'm a business guy at heart, and I have really enjoyed getting back to the private sector full time and focusing on growing our firm's business in Virginia. More to come tomorrow.

Included was a link to the RCM&D News announcing that long-time employee "former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling joined the firm on a full time basis when his term ended on January 11, 2014. Bolling assumed the position of Managing Director of RCM&D’s Virginia operations, and will have lead responsibility for managing all aspects of the firm’s strategic growth plans in the state."

RCM&D was founded in 1885 and ranked among the top privately-held independent insurance advisory firms in the country with over 300 professionals and six locations throughout the mid-Atlantic region including Richmond. They provide "property and casualty; management liability, and employee benefit services to clients in a number of critical business sectors, including health care, higher education, manufacturing, technology, construction and real estate, and transportation and logistics."

The announcement continued, "Lieutenant Governor Bolling has been affiliated with RCM&D on a part time basis since 2003. His focus had been on new business development and client retention. As Managing Director of RCM&D’s Virginia operations, Bolling will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic growth strategy for the firm in Virginia, and overseeing all aspects of the firm’s operations in the Commonwealth."

Update #2 - Monday, April 14:

In January, I agreed to serve as Chairman of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce's Industry Council on Business Climate and Economic Development. This is an excellent way for me to continue the work I did during the McDonnell administration as Virginia's Chief Jobs Creation Officer.

Update #3 - Tuesday, April 15:

At the request of former Gov. Jerry Baliles, I have agreed to serve as co-chair of the Rural Virginia Horseshoe Initiative. One in four Virginians across parts of the Rural Horseshoe have less than a high school education, and this initiative seeks to change that.

Update #4 - Wednesday, April 16:

As an avid fly fisherman and outdoor enthusiast, I was honored to be appointed to the Board of Directors of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

It's good to see that the Bollings continue their involvement in public life even while finding a bit more private time like their recent trip to Cancun.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Keep your powder dry, Bill Bolling

 Lieutenant Governor Bill and Jean Ann Bolling in Staunton -- August 2013.

He's been lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth for the past eight years, and served in the State Senate for ten years before that. Bill Bolling has been a dedicated servant to the people of Virginia and, in another ten days, he will step out of the spotlight. For a little while. As the old saying goes, keep your powder dry, Lieutenant Governor.

Reporter Jim Nolen with the Richmond Times-Dispatch did a nice profile article about the LG, catching up with him on the banks of the Rose River where he was enjoying one of his favorite pastimes -- fly fishing. Taking in the solace that many of us find in the Old Dominion, his joy of the outdoors was reflected in what Nolen wrote:

Within five minutes, and without any fanfare, Bolling reels in two impressive rainbow trout. He admires each of them for a moment, before gently unhooking them and returning them to the cold water.

“It’s become my getaway spot — a place that I can go and get away from everything,” Bolling said of the Rose River, in Madison County below Old Rag Mountain. “The time I spend there is therapeutic. It helps me clear my head, and the trout never talk back or disagree with me!”

After the past two years of turmoil in state politics that saw Bolling squeezed out by a Republican Party that left him, not the other way around, this LG has earned some time off. Hopefully, it won't be for long since his conservative leadership is needed now more than ever after every statewide office has flipped to the Democrats, as noted by reporter Shawn Day at the Virginian Pilot.

Through the mud-slinging, accusations, and betrayals, Bolling's humor has stayed intact even if at times it has frayed a bit. The down-to-earth LG whose values match those of most conservatives believes in governing in a more pragmatic, reach-across-the-aisle manner than that of the flame throwers. The November elections proved one thing: people didn't necessarily want a flame thrower in the Top Spot. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Bolling continues to hold the respect of business leaders and grassroots supporters throughout the Commonwealth which again leads to these four words of advice: Keep your powder dry.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
August 2013

Tuesday is Primary Day in Virginia

Tuesday, June 11, 2013, is Primary Day in Virginia. Voting takes place at your regular polling place between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Identification will be required, just as last year's November General Election. Changes to the law related to photo ID requirements to vote will not be effective until July 2014.

For Democrats, Tuesday is the opportunity to vote for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General candidates. The gubernatorial choice is already in place -- Terry McAuliffe -- because no one stepped up to challenge him.

That leaves two choices for lieutenant governor: State Senator Ralph Northam (D-6th Senate District) and Aneesh Chopra who is a techie guy out of the Obama administration.

Also two choices for attorney general: State Senator Mark Herring (D-33rd Senate District), and former federal prosecutor Justin Fairfax.

If you're a Republican, the Top Three candidates were chosen for you at the recent Republican Party of Virginia convention in Richmond: Ken Cuccinelli for Governor, E.W. Jackson for Lieutenant Governor, and Mark Obenshain for Attorney General.

Republicans have eight contested House of Delegates races:
- 15th District: Incumbent Todd Gilbert versus Mark Prince
- 16th District - Open Seat: Les Adams versus Ken Bowman
- 28th District: Incumbent Speaker of the House Bill Howell versus Craig Ennis
- 29th District: Incumbent Beverly Sherwood versus Mark Berg
- 33rd District: Incumbent Joe May versus David LaRock
- 54th District: Incumbent Bobby Orrock versus Dustin Curtis
- 6th District: Jeffrey Campbell versus Jack Weaver
- 85th District: Scott Taylor vs Gary Byler vs Jeremy Waters

Democrats have three contested House of Delegates races:
- 63rd District: Evandra Thompson versus Rosalyn Dance
- 86th District: Jennifer Boysko versus Herbert Kemp
- 90th District: Rick James versus Algie Howell, Jr.

For more information, check out the State Board of Elections website.

Bolling's Va Mainstream Project PAC taps 6 candidates for HoD support

In the second wave of flexing his political muscle, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling's "Virginia Mainstream Project" (VMP) has made six more political endorsements backed with financial support and radio campaign ads leading into contested primaries on June 11.

With the goal of electing mainstream, conservative Republicans to public office, VMP announced it had endorsed the following candidates for their Virginia House of Delegates races, some who are being challenged by tea party or Ron Paul candidates and are in particularly contentious contests:

- House District 15 – Delegate Todd Gilbert
- House District 28 – Speaker Bill Howell
- House District 29 – Delegate Beverly Sherwood
- House District 33 – Delegate Joe May
- House District 54 – Delegate Bobby Orrock
- House District 85 – Mr. Scott Taylor

In addition to financial support, 60-second radio ads have been purchased and are airing for Orrock and Sherwood.

This is on the heels of VMP's endorsement and financial support to Delegate John Cosgrove who was successful in his May 9 firehouse primary seeking the Republican nomination for the 14th Senate District.

Bolling has stepped to the plate with his PAC, his experience, his reputation, and his willingness to endorse candidates interested in effective, common sense governing. That includes a pro-business attitude, fiscal responsibility, and a willingness to work toward searching for bi-partisan, pragmatic solutions. Reinforcing that commitment, Bolling noted:

"If we are going to win elections in Virginia, we must nominate candidates who will appeal to Republicans and Independents and attract new people to our party.  I believe these candidates will help us accomplish that goal, but they need your help to win."

The two-term lieutenant governor, who had been very involved and inviting with the grassroots of the party and conservative bloggers during his years in Richmond, unexpectedly found himself in his new leadership role as senior statesman after stepping away from the 2013 gubernatorial race. A series of maneuverings within RPV led to the takeover of the state central committee by the tea party and Libertarian activists who then reversed an earlier vote for a 2013 primary to a much more controlled convention, the one that recently took place in Richmond.

Because of that change, Bolling briefly flirted with the idea of running as an independent but decided against it in March, prompting the Lynchburg News and Advance to editorialize:

Bill Bolling is no tax-and-spend liberal, no R(epublican) I(n) N(ame) O(nly) as uber-conservative activists have tried to portray him. He’s a traditional Virginia conservative, a public servant who labored for his constituents as a Hanover County supervisor, then state senator and finally lieutenant governor for almost eight years.

But the type of public servant Bolling is just isn’t what’s in fashion with the Republicans right today. An elected official who actually believes government has a role in society but who wants it to operate efficiently, leanly and unobtrusively is not the politician the tea party loves who sees government as a beast to be starved.

In May, Bolling reflected on his new role in Virginia Republican politics with reporter Errin Whack at the Washington Post:

“I found myself in a position of being the voice of a lot of mainstream Republicans across the state who were trying to call our party back to a more mainstream approach to politics and policy,” Bolling said in an interview. “It’s not a role I envisioned playing, but it’s a role I was thrust into because of the way things have evolved, and it’s a role I’m comfortable playing.”

It all led to the Virginia Mainstream Project. As the News and Advance wrote in the conclusion of their editorial:

In announcing his decision earlier this week, Bolling lamented what he — and we — see as the “Washingtonization” of Virginia politics. Political battles, achieving the label of most ideologically pure, hyper-partisanship and just plain meanspiritedness seem to be oozing their way into the halls of the state Capitol.

That’s not Bill Bolling’s way of leading. That’s not “The Virginia Way” of governing, or at least it hasn’t been.