WASHINGTON—Today, The Heritage Foundation congratulates its former president, Kay C. James, as Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin announced her appointment as Virginia’s next secretary of the commonwealth. 

“The entire Heritage family couldn’t be prouder of our former leader,” said Heritage President Kevin Roberts, Ph.D. “We can’t think of anyone more qualified to assist Virginia’s next governor in recruiting thousands of service-minded Virginians to serve on Virginia’s state boards, commissions, and councils. Kay knows that government works best when solutions-oriented citizens who believe in limited government and individual liberty are involved. The people of Virginia should take great comfort that Gov.-elect Youngkin has tapped Kay to help him with these critical appointments.” 

“As a lifelong Virginian who has devoted much of my career to public service, I see serving as secretary as one more opportunity to give back to the commonwealth that has given so much to me,” said James. “As the person responsible for helping the governor recruit and appoint Virginians to serve on state boards and commissions, I’m looking forward to recommending people I call ‘solutionists’—those who are willing to consider every good idea to make life better for all Virginians who are also committed to the principles of individual freedom, limited government, free enterprise, and the traditional Virginia values that make this the wonderful commonwealth that it is.” 

In December, Youngkin asked James, a lifelong Virginia resident, to serve as co-chairman of his gubernatorial transition team along with state Sen. Steve Newman. Heritage's Lindsey M. Burke, Ph.D., director of the Center for Education Policy, is also a member of the transition team. 

Youngkin previously named Andrew Wheeler, a Heritage visiting fellow and former Environmental Protection Agency administrator, to serve as his secretary of natural resources.