Spanberger names transition team, including Richmond Association of Realtors CEO Lafayette

Virginia Governor-Elect Abigail Spanberger Wednesday named her chief of staff and a 13-member transition team that will spend the next two months helping prepare a governing agenda and administration for her.

Spanberger’s “United for Virginia’s Future” transition team will include her chief of staff, Bonnie Krenz-Schnurman, who also served as her chief of staff when Spanberger was a member of Congress.

One of eight co-chairs of the committee will be Henrico resident Laura Lafayette, the CEO of the Richmond Association of Realtors and the Central Virginia Regional Multiple Listing Service, two organizations that serve more than 6,500 Realtors in Central Virginia.

Lafayette is a past chair of the board and current member of the board of directors of the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust; a co-founder and current board member of the Partnership for Housing Affordability; the vice chair of the board of the YWCA; a member of the board of trustees for Virginia Episcopal Real Estate Partners; and a member of the Housing Advisory Committee for Henrico County.

She previously served as press secretary for L. Douglas Wilder during his 1989 gubernatorial campaign and later as spokesperson for and advisor on the transition team, before becoming director of communications for Wilder from January 1990 to August 1991.

“Virginians have spoken,” Spanberger said in a statement. “In every corner of our Commonwealth, they made clear that they are ready for pragmatic and principled leadership that puts Virginia first. As I said last night, my transition team and my administration will use this moment to bring us together — to unite us for the sake of a stronger, safer, and more affordable future for all Virginians. 

“The incredibly talented and driven members of my transition leadership team will immediately begin using their expertise to follow through on this shared vision. Together, we will lower costs for Virginia families, protect our Virginia economy, and provide more opportunities to the next generation of Virginians. The work begins now.”

Other members of the team include:

• Karen Mask, transition director (Mask will serve as deputy chief of staff for operations once Spanberger takes office);

• Yohannes Abraham, transition committee co-chair (visiting professor at the University of Virginia);

• Kelly Cannon, co-chair (CEO, Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association Foundation);

• Marvin Figueroa, co-chair (vice president, Health and Life Sciences, BGR Group);

• Daun Hester, co-chair (treasurer, City of Norfolk; Former delegate, Virginia House of Delegates);

• Chris Lu, co-chair (James R. Schlesinger Distinguished Professor, University of Virginia Miller Center; executive director, Obama-Biden transition);

• Samson Signori, co-chair (campaign manager, Spanberger for Governor);

Honorary co-chairs include:

• L. Louise Lucas (president pro tempore, Senate of Virginia);

• Don Scott (Speaker of the House, Virginia House of Delegates);

• Candi Mundon King (Virginia House of Delegates);

• Jennifer Wexton (former congresswoman, Virginia’s 10th Congressional District);

• Rick Boucher (former congressman, Virginia’s 9th Congressional District).