Connaughton slated as state transportation secretary

By: Keith Walker | Inside NoVA
Published: December 22, 2009

Governor-elect Robert F. McDonnell has named former Prince William County Chairman Sean T. Connaughton as the new state Secretary of Transportation.

McDonnell made the announcement at midday Tuesday during a press conference in Richmond where he also announced several other cabinet appointments.

Connaughton served a the Prince William County chairman from 2000 until 2006 when he was appointed by President George W. Bush to head of the U.S. Maritime Administration at the Dept. of Transportation. He served in the position until early 2009.

McDonnell said Connaughton, who was instrumental in creating the Prince William County Department of Transportation and led the charge to pass $300 million road bond referendum, has a "solid understanding of the transportation challenges facing our suburban and exurban localities in the faster-growing parts of our state."

To date, the county has borrowed 32 percent — $96.08 million — of the money voters in 2006 approved for road construction.

McDonnell expanded on Connaughton's qualifications in a press release Tuesday.

"Sean shares my commitment to solving our transportation challenges, and his background has prepared him very well for this position. His experience as Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration, and service as Vice President of the American Bureau of Shipping, gives him a depth of experience and knowledge about what needs to be done at and around the Port of Virginia in the years ahead to ensure that we fully maximize the potential of this great asset," the release stated.

Before the Bush appointment Connaughton was a maritime law attorney with the Washington D.C. law firm of Troutman Sanders

McDonnell said that experience would also help Connaughton in his new job.

"His overall background in transportation law and policy give him a broad perspective on this multi-faceted issue, the kind of perspective that is invaluable in a diverse state such as Virginia," McDonnell stated in the release.

In 2005 Connaughton gained statewide recognition when sought the nomination for lieutenant governor and lost to Bill Bolling.

Prince William Chairman Corey A. Stewart, R-at large, praised Connaughton's appointment.

“Virginia is lucky to have someone who cut their teeth on Prince William’s innovative road building program continuing in that role.” Stewart said of Connaughton.

“I think that Sean is a good fit for this job, and a worthy lieutenant in the fight for transportation funding,” Stewart said in a Tuesday press release.

Stewart said Connaughton's "personal experience" with transportation woes in Northern Virginia's would serve him well in the post.

I’m heartened that the Transportation Secretary will have personal experience dealing with them.” Stewart said.

Connaughton will take over the position from current transportation secretary Pierce Homer in mid-January.

Homer worked for Prince William County for 15 years and was the deputy county executive when he left to take a job in Richmond as deputy transportation secretary under Gov. Mark Warner in 2002. In the last year of his administration, Warner appointed Homer to state Secretary of Transportation. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine kept Homer on in the position.

Manassas Bureau Chief Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751