Co-chairs named for McDonnell inauguration

Sheila Johnson, the Democratic businesswoman who endorsed Republican Bob McDonnell in the governor's race this year will serve as one his inaugural co-chairs, the campaign announced yesterday.

McDonnell's inauguration as the 71st governor of Virginia will be held Jan. 16, and will return to Richmond for the first time since 2002. The 2006 inauguration of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine was held in Williamsburg because the state Capitol was under renovation.

McDonnell's inaugural co-chairs will serve as ambassadors for the Inaugural Celebration.

The other co-chairs are: Richard Gilliam, a coal-mining-industry executive; Fred Malek, former president of Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Northwest Airlines who served as an assistant to Presidents Richard M. Nixon and George H.W. Bush; Jerry Kilgore, former attorney general from 2002-2005; Susan Allen, wife of former governor and U.S. Sen. George Allen; and Ed Gillespie, who served as chairman for McDonnell's campaign.

-- Olympia Meola