Molly Joseph Ward
{{Short description|American government official, politician, and attorney}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Molly Ward
|image = Molly_Joseph_Ward_Headshot.jpg
|office = 9th Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources
|governor = Terry McAuliffe
|term_start = January 11, 2014
|term_end = January 13, 2018
|predecessor = Douglas Domenech
|successor = Matt Strickler
|office1 = Mayor of Hampton
|term_start1 = July 2008
|term_end1 = October 4, 2013
|predecessor1 = Ross Kearney II
|successor1 = George E. Wallace
|birth_name = Molly Boyd Joseph
|birth_date =
|birth_place = Newport News, Virginia, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Forrest Siegfried Ward
|education = University of Virginia (BA)
College of William and Mary (JD)
}}
Molly Joseph Ward is an American government official, politician, and attorney. She served as Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources from 2014 to 2018 under Governor Terry McAuliffe. Prior to this, she worked in The White House, where she was a Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.
From 2008 to 2013, she served as mayor of Hampton, Virginia.{{cite news|last=Vozzella |first=Laura |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/left-flank-upset-with-va-gov-elect-mcauliffe-over-cabinet-appointments/2014/01/05/2d15ca7a-73d4-11e3-9389-09ef9944065e_story.html |title=Left flank upset with Va. Gov.-elect McAuliffe over Cabinet appointments |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2014-01-05 |accessdate=2017-01-23}}{{cite web|url=http://pilotonline.com/inside-business/special-reports/power-issue/2014/top-25/aubrey-layne-molly-ward-and-maurice-jones/article_1180033c-8b28-59d7-9ea4-ea0b584fcf08.html |title=12. Aubrey Layne, Molly Ward and Maurice Jones | Power Issue 2014 Top 25 |website=Pilotonline.com |date=2014-04-24 |accessdate=2017-01-23}} She served as city treasurer from 2002 to 2008 prior to her mayoral tenure, and returned to the position in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Ress |first=Dave |date=2017-06-16 |title=Molly Ward running unopposed for Hampton treasurer |url=https://www.dailypress.com/2017/06/15/molly-ward-running-unopposed-for-hampton-treasurer/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Daily Press |language=en-US}}
Education
In 1983, she graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in English, and later received her legal education at the College of William & Mary.{{Cite web |last=Bozick |first=Tara |date=2016-01-03 |title=Molly Ward named Chamber’s 2015 Distinguished Citizen |url=https://www.dailypress.com/2016/01/03/molly-ward-named-chambers-2015-distinguished-citizen/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Daily Press |language=en-US}}
Career
File:100616-A-5177B-018 (4720965624).jpg
Ward served as city treasurer in Hampton, Virginia from 2002 to 2008.{{Cite web |title=Former mayor Molly Ward returns to serve as Hampton treasurer |url=https://hampton.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2976&ARC=6892 |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Hampton, VA |language=en}} As treasurer, she was credited with balancing the city's financial department's books without presiding over tax increases.{{Cite web |date=2004-03-24 |title=Local Treasurer Turns Tax Office Right Side Up |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2004/03/24/local-treasurer-turns-tax-office-right-side-up/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=The Virginian-Pilot |language=en-US}} She was elected mayor of Hampton in 2008 and was reelected in 2012 with two-thirds of the vote. Ward additionally served on the board of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.{{Cite web |last=Middleton |first=Leslie |date=2014-01-08 |title=McAuliffe appointees critical to natural resource protection and Chesapeake Bay cleanup |url=https://www.bayjournal.com/news/blogs/mcauliffe-appointees-critical-to-natural-resource-protection-and-chesapeake-bay-cleanup/article_47430f7e-45ed-53e7-9abe-9730d1ae14cf.html |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Bay Journal |language=en}}
In 2013, she left her position as mayor to join as the Obama administration as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role, she was credited with helping to securing Fort Monroe's designation as a federal monument. In the position, she was responsible for engaging with municipal and county officials across the country on behalf of The White House.{{Cite web |date=2013-09-30 |title=Hampton Mayor appointed to White House post |url=https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/hampton-mayor-appointed-to-white-house-post/291-418108581 |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=13NewsNow}}
Following Terry McAuliffe's election as Governor of Virginia, she was chosen for the position of Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources.
In 2017, she returned to Hampton municipal politics to run for city treasurer unopposed.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://naturalresources.virginia.gov/ Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources]
{{McAuliffe cabinet}}
{{Virginia-politician-stub}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Molly Joseph}}
Category:Mayors of Hampton, Virginia
Category:State cabinet secretaries of Virginia
Category:University of Virginia alumni