Jody Wagner
Encyclopedia
Jody Moses Wagner is an American politician from Virginia Beach, Virginia
. A Democrat
, she served as State Treasurer of Virginia
from January 2002 to January 2006, and as Virginia Secretary of Finance from January 2006 to August 2008. She was an unsuccessful candidate for United States House of Representatives
in Virginia's 2nd congressional district
in 2000. She was the nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
in the 2009 election
. She lost the election to the incumbent Bill Bolling
.
in economics
from Northwestern University
in 1977, and a J.D.
from Vanderbilt University
in 1980. She was admitted to the bar in Tennessee
in 1980 and in Virginia in 1984. Prior to joining state government, she worked for about 18 years at the Norfolk
law firm Kaufman & Canoles, specializing in securities and banking law. She has been a board member of the Norfolk Foundation and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. She is a former president of the Jewish Family Services of Tidewater and former board member of the Eastern Virginia Medical School.
In September 2005, Wagner and her husband, Dr. Alan Wagner, an ophthalmologist
, began a side business making gourmet popcorn
.
following the retirement of Democratic Representative Owen B. Pickett
. She lost the race to Republican
Ed Schrock
, a state senator
, despite roughly matching Schrock in fundraising and showing unexpected strength in a Republican-leaning district.
In January 2002, Governor Mark Warner
appointed Wagner Treasurer of Virginia, an office within the Secretariat of Finance. During her tenure, she was elected President of the National Association of State Treasurers.
In January 2006 incoming Governor Tim Kaine
appointed Wagner Secretary of Finance. She was succeeded as state treasurer by deputy state treasurer Braxton Powell
.
Wagner resigned as Secretary of Finance effective August 8, 2008, and was succeeded in that post by state budget director Richard D. Brown. A week later, on August 15, she announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor in the 2009 election
. She won the June 9, 2009 primary.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she served as State Treasurer of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
from January 2002 to January 2006, and as Virginia Secretary of Finance from January 2006 to August 2008. She was an unsuccessful candidate for United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in Virginia's 2nd congressional district
Virginia's 2nd congressional district
Virginia's second congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It encompasses all of Accomack and Northampton Counties and the City of Virginia Beach and parts of the cities of Norfolk and Hampton...
in 2000. She was the nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The office is currently held by Republican William T. Bolling. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected...
in the 2009 election
Virginia elections, 2009
The following offices were up for election in the United States Commonwealth of Virginia in the November 2009 general election:*Three statewide offices – Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General – for four-year terms...
. She lost the election to the incumbent Bill Bolling
Bill Bolling
William T. "Bill" Bolling is the current Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Running as a Republican, he was elected twice to the position by defeating his Democratic opponent in both the 2005 and 2009 general elections. He is the first Lieutenant Governor in the Commonwealth of Virginia to serve two...
.
Personal life
Wagner received a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1977, and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in 1980. She was admitted to the bar in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
in 1980 and in Virginia in 1984. Prior to joining state government, she worked for about 18 years at the Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
law firm Kaufman & Canoles, specializing in securities and banking law. She has been a board member of the Norfolk Foundation and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. She is a former president of the Jewish Family Services of Tidewater and former board member of the Eastern Virginia Medical School.
In September 2005, Wagner and her husband, Dr. Alan Wagner, an ophthalmologist
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
, began a side business making gourmet popcorn
Popcorn
Popcorn, or popping corn, is corn which expands from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn is able to pop because, like sorghum, quinoa and millet, its kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy interior. This allows pressure to build inside the kernel until an explosive...
.
Political career
In 2000 Wagner was the Democratic nominee in Virginia's 2nd congressional districtVirginia's 2nd congressional district
Virginia's second congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It encompasses all of Accomack and Northampton Counties and the City of Virginia Beach and parts of the cities of Norfolk and Hampton...
following the retirement of Democratic Representative Owen B. Pickett
Owen B. Pickett
Owen Bradford Pickett was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia.-Early life:...
. She lost the race to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Ed Schrock
Ed Schrock
Edward Lee "Ed" Schrock is a retired career Naval officer and former Republican politician who served as a member of the U.S...
, a state senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
, despite roughly matching Schrock in fundraising and showing unexpected strength in a Republican-leaning district.
In January 2002, Governor Mark Warner
Mark Warner
Mark Robert Warner is an American politician and businessman, currently serving in the United States Senate as the junior senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Warner was the 69th governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 and is the honorary chairman of...
appointed Wagner Treasurer of Virginia, an office within the Secretariat of Finance. During her tenure, she was elected President of the National Association of State Treasurers.
In January 2006 incoming Governor Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
appointed Wagner Secretary of Finance. She was succeeded as state treasurer by deputy state treasurer Braxton Powell
Braxton Powell
J. Braxton Powell served as the State Treasurer of Virginia from January, 2006 to December 2008. He was appointed by Governor Tim Kaine. Prior to his appointment as State Treasurer, he had served since January, 2002, as Deputy State Treasurer under Governor Mark Warner.As Deputy State Treasurer,...
.
Wagner resigned as Secretary of Finance effective August 8, 2008, and was succeeded in that post by state budget director Richard D. Brown. A week later, on August 15, she announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor in the 2009 election
Virginia elections, 2009
The following offices were up for election in the United States Commonwealth of Virginia in the November 2009 general election:*Three statewide offices – Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General – for four-year terms...
. She won the June 9, 2009 primary.