By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has named her picks for Virginia’s finance and administration secretaries, continuing the rollout of her incoming Cabinet ahead of taking office in January.
The appointments fill two Cabinet posts tied to Virginia’s financial management and internal government operations.
Spanberger announced that Del. Mark D. Sickles will serve as Virginia’s next secretary of finance.
Sickles is finishing up his 22nd year in the House of Delegates, where he represents part of South Fairfax County. He currently serves as vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee and has been involved in House budget negotiations since 2018. Sickles also chairs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and serves on several commissions focused on revenue oversight and state spending.
“As the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Delegate Sickles has years of experience working with both Democrats and Republicans to pass commonsense budgets that have offered tax relief for families and helped Virginia’s economy grow,” Spanberger said in a statement.
In his statement, Sickles said his focus as finance secretary will be ensuring tax dollars are used effectively while addressing affordability pressures facing Virginians, including tuition costs, housing and access to health care.
Spanberger also announced Traci J. Deshazor as her choice for secretary of administration.
Deshazor most recently served as deputy secretary of the Commonwealth under former governors Ralph Northam and Terry McAuliffe. She previously held senior leadership roles with the City of Richmond, including deputy chief administrative officer for human services.
In her statement, Spanberger said the secretary of administration oversees critical functions across state government and said Deshazor’s career has focused on improving how government works for Virginians at both the state and local levels.
Deshazor said in a statement that her work has focused on making public institutions effective and centered on delivering results for the people they serve. She said she will bring a “people-first, outcomes-driven approach to strengthening Virginia’s operations, promoting transparency, and strengthening trust in government.”
The announcements follow Spanberger’s recent selections for transportation, health and human resources, public safety and homeland security, and agriculture and forestry.
