The Shadow
RICHMOND (AP) – After Democrats threatened to block Gov. Bob McDonnell’s first choice for secretary of commerce and trade over concerns about potential conflicts of interest, McDonnell replaced the Richmond businessman during a swearing in ceremony Sunday at the Capitol.
Instead of swearing in Bob Sledd, businessman Jim Cheng took the oath of office as McDonnell’s commerce secretary. Cheng is a technology executive with ties to Virginia Beach.
McDonnell said Sledd would instead work with him and Cheng as an unpaid senior economic adviser on job-creation and economic development matters.
Senate Democrats had threatened Sledd’s nomination because the former chief executive of Performance Food Group and managing partner of Pinnacle Ventures LLC serves on the boards of tobacco company Universal Corp. and medical supply company Owens & Minor, both of Richmond, and SCP Pool Corp. of Louisiana, which is a wholesale supplier for the pool and spa industries.
The commerce secretary oversee 13 state agencies that regulate business and would be privy to confidential state information that could help the corporations he also serves.
McDonnell said in a statement Sunday that Sledd is “one of the most talented and visionary job-creators in Virginia” whose talents will help create “economic prosperity in every community in the state.”
McDonnel also said Cheng is well-respected in the business community and “understands our global economy and what must be done for Virginia to excel in it.”
All but two of the new Republican governor’s cabinet were sworn in during his first full day in office. Janet Polarek, nominated as secretary of the commonwealth, and Terrie Suit, nominated as assistant to the governor for commonwealth preparedness, will be sworn in on Jan. 24 as stipulated by state code.
All cabinet members still must be confirmed by the House and Senate.
