JMU Forum to Spotlight Former Governors Holton, Baliles

From: Public Affairs

October 25, 2007

HARRISONBURG — Former Virginia governors A. Linwood Holton Jr. and Gerald L. Baliles will provide first-hand perspectives of their respective administrations and speak about current governmental and political issues in the state during the Governors' Forum at James Madison University.

DATE: Monday, Oct. 29, 2007
TIME: 7:15 p.m.
LOCATION: Ballroom B and C, Festival Conference and Student Center

JMU Provost Douglas T. Brown will give a welcoming talk and A.R. "Pete" Giesen Jr., a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates who currently teaches part time at JMU, will introduce the governors.

Elected in 1970, Holton was the first Republican governor of Virginia in the 20th century and the first Republican in 100 years to hold the office. The Big Stone Gap native's accomplishments while governor included modernizing and streamlining Virginia's state government through such initiatives as the cabinet system. Holton also supported the educational institutions of the state and helped smooth the integration of public schools.

Holton currently practices law as a shareholder at McCandlish Holton, P.C. Since finishing his term as governor, Holton has served as president of Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology.

Baliles, who served as governor from 1986 to 1990, became known as the "transportation governor" because of his leadership in guiding the General Assembly to implement a $422 million-a-year revenue package for transportation. Baliles was a champion of education and bringing international trade to Virginia. During his term, Baliles also appointed the first woman to serve on the Virginia Supreme Court, Elizabeth B. Lacy.

Following his term as governor, Baliles worked for the Hunton & Williams law firm until he became director of the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia in April 2006.

Following the governors' presentations, a panel of JMU political science junior and senior students will ask questions of Holton and Baliles.

The forum is sponsored by the JMU College of Arts and Letters and the Department of Political Science. Admission is free.

JMU Public Affairs contact: Janet Smith, 540-568-8008 or smithjl@jmu.edu.

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