WASHINGTON – Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has become chair of the National Governors Association for 2016-17, the group announced this weekend.
McAuliffe, a Democrat who was the group's vice chair, was named chair on Saturday at the closing session of NGA's summer meeting in Des Moines. He succeeds Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who completed his one-year term as chair.
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican, was named NGA vice chair. McAuliffe and Sandoval lead the group's nine-member executive committee.
The bipartisan NGA develops best practices for state governments and public policy at the state and national level. The group, based in Washington, has frequently called for preserving the tax exemption of municipal bonds as Congress weighs possible tax reform proposals.
In a news release, NGA officials said McAuliffe's initiative as chair is "Meet the Threat: States Confront the Cyber Challenge," which focuses on advancing cybersecurity for infrastructure, health care, education and other sectors.
"Growing the cybersecurity industry will create the next generation of American technology jobs and stimulate economic growth in states across the nation," McAuliffe said.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, was named chair of NGA's ten-member economic development and commerce committee, which works to improve transportation infrastructure, telecommunications, science and technology development, and other initiatives. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, the past committee chair, will serve as the committee's vice chair for 2016-17.
Leaders were also named for NGA's four other committees: Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, a Republican, chairs the education and workforce committee, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, a Democrat, heads the health and human services committee, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a GOP member, leads the homeland security and public safety committee, and California Gov. Edmund Brown, a Democrat, chairs the natural resources committee.
NGA alternates the party affiliation of its chair each year as to not have a Republican or Democrat serve as its leader for multiple years.
