FAITH IN OUR
GOVERNMENT
FOR A L L VIRGINIANS
A 15-Point Plan to ensure
Fairness, Accountability, Integrity, Transparency
and Honesty in state government
PAID FOR AND AUTHORIZED BY ED GILLESPIE FOR GOVERNOR
ED GILLESPIE’S
PLEDGE
I will be an honest, ethical,
principled, hardworking, faithful
servant-leader worthy of Virginia.
FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT
FOR A L L VIRGINIANS
S U M M A RY
As governor, Ed Gillespie will lead a state government rooted in
Fairness, Accountability, Integrity, Transparency, and Honesty.
His 15-point ‘FAITH in our Government for ALL Virginians’ Plan
will level the playing field, give citizens a greater say, close
campaign finance loopholes, increase transparency, and foster
confidence in state government. But more than anything,
Ed will lead by example as “an honest, ethical, principled,
hardworking, faithful servant-leader worthy of Virginia.”
Too many Virginians feel that government works for the well-connected and powerful,
leaders are unaccountable for their actions, decisions are driven by special interests,
and a fog of bureaucracy clouds transparency.
The 15-point FAITH plan will ensure Fairness, Accountability, Integrity, Transparency,
and Honesty in government for ALL Virginians. As governor, Ed Gillespie will make
sure that our government is responsive to the needs of Virginians. Government will
be held accountable to “We the People” and Virginians will have confidence that our
leaders are serving us, not special interests.
Ed will take concrete action to see this vision through, but he also knows the best
way to affect change is to lead by example. His pledge to be an honest, ethical,
principled, hardworking, faithful servant-leader worthy of our proud and storied
history is not just a campaign promise, it is what is in his heart. He will carry this
commitment with him every day as the 73rd Governor of the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
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FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT
FOR A L L VIRGINIANS
FAIRNESS
All Virginians deserve fair and open access to government. Ed wants to level the playing field
and close loopholes that give insiders unfair access.
PROHIBIT ‘BAIT AND SWITCH’ CAMPAIGN FINANCE PRACTICES.
As governor, Ed Gillespie will introduce legislation to prohibit candidates from
using the money raised for one office to run for a different office. When people
contribute to a campaign account, they fairly assume their hard-earned money will
be spent for the purposes they gave it. Further, allowing sitting office holders to
raise funds into their existing campaign account and then transfer the contribution
into a different account for another office is an unfair advantage over unelected
citizens running against them, who have to raise money for their campaign from
scratch. This advantage makes it harder for people who do not already hold public
office to run for office.
EXTEND THE ‘REVOLVING DOOR’ LOBBYING BAN THROUGH THE
END OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
As governor, Ed will extend the length of time administration officials must wait
before lobbying their prior office. Gillespie administration appointees will be
prohibited from lobbying the office in which they served for two years or the
remainder of the administration, whichever is longer.
BAN LOBBYISTS FROM LOBBYING AGENCIES THAT OVERSEE
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ON WHICH THEY SERVE.
Registered lobbyists should be barred from lobbying any agency that oversees
or administers a policy or supervisory Board or Commission on which they serve.
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FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT
FOR A L L VIRGINIANS
ACCOUNTABILITY
Too often, government seems to forget that it works for “We the People.” Ed’s plan will give
citizens a greater say in how their government operates and more chances to hold elected
leaders accountable for their actions.
HOST QUARTERLY OFFICE HOURS.
As governor, Ed Gillespie and his cabinet will host quarterly office hours to
hear directly from Virginians. Ed will hold meetings in different regions of the
Commonwealth so all Virginians with concerns about our state government will
have access to their governor and senior members of a Gillespie Administration.
REQUIRE ALL PUBLIC BODIES TO SOLICIT PUBLIC COMMENT.
Not all public bodies are required to receive and solicit public comment at their
meetings. Some hold public comment only after the board has voted or completed
action on agenda items. All agencies and public bodies will be required to solicit
public comment during meetings of public bodies prior to taking action. Ed will also
issue an executive order to immediately require this of executive branch boards.
This policy will apply to Boards of Visitors of our institutions of higher education.
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FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT
FOR A L L VIRGINIANS
INTEGRITY
Ed Gillespie will reform campaign finance laws to ensure that Virginians can have faith in the
integrity of our process.
BAN PERSONAL USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
Prohibiting any personal use of campaign funds by candidates is a commonsense
measure to assure integrity in the use of campaign donations. Because the current
system permits use of campaign funds for various worthwhile purposes, such as
supplementation of office budgets and constituent services, Ed will work with
the General Assembly to provide an appropriate definition of what constitutes a
prohibited “personal use.”
EXTEND THE FUNDRAISING BLACKOUT PERIOD TO INCLUDE VETO
SESSION AND SPECIAL SESSIONS.
Current law prohibits political fundraising during the legislative session, but permits
it during in-session days during reconvened (known as ‘Veto Session’) and special
sessions. Ed Gillespie will introduce legislation to extend the current fundraising
“blackout” period to include all days when the full House and Senate is assembled
in Richmond and voting on the floor of the House and Senate.
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FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT
FOR A L L VIRGINIANS
TRANSPARENCY
Ed’s plan will increase transparency throughout state government so that Virginians will have
equal and easy access to information that affects our daily lives.
PARTNER WITH TRANSPARENCY ORGANIZATIONS.
As governor, Ed Gillespie will partner with the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), the
Virginia Coalition for Open Government and similar transparency organizations to ensure state
government is producing data and information in the most effective, transparent, and technically
appropriate form to allow for seamless transition between state government and third-party
data systems. Ed Gillespie will sign an executive order to direct state government to explore
strategies for increasing transparency to allow non-profit watchdog organizations, like VPAP
and the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, to focus on their mission of accessible and
informative information.
LIVESTREAM ALL AGENCY, BOARD & COMMISSION MEETINGS.
Any agency with a General Fund biennial budget of more than $1 billion will begin live streaming
board meetings on Day One of the Gillespie Administration. Ed will also sign an executive order
requiring the Secretary of Technology to develop protocols for livestreaming all remaining
executive branch board, and commission meetings within the first 100 days of the administration
and to make recordings of meetings available online, as well.
LIVESTREAM CABINET MEETINGS.
As governor, Ed Gillespie will host at least four public meetings of the Cabinet annually and will
livestream those meetings and invite public comment.
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICES, AGENDA, MINUTES AND PRESENTATIONS.
As governor, Ed Gillespie will sign an executive order that will establish statewide protocols for
the publishing and organization of information in public meeting notices, agendas, minutes and
presentations. The Secretary of Technology will be charged with developing a seamless technology
solution and providing technical assistance to ensure all agencies are able to conform to protocols
for public access of information. This will also apply to Boards of Visitors who currently produce
widely varying levels of details in advance about important board actions. Further, the executive
order will require public bodies to update the meeting package online if it changes between the
time of posting and the meeting.
SUPPORT MORE FREQUENT DISCLOSURES FOR ELECTED AND
APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
As governor, Ed Gillespie will support measures to increase the frequency of disclosures related
to Conflict of Interest and campaign finance.
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FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT
FOR A L L VIRGINIANS
HONESTY
As governor, Ed Gillespie will lead a state government in a honest and ethical manner.
Ed’s plan will ensure the rules are known and followed by all those associated with a
Gillespie administration.
EXECUTIVE ORDER ON ETHICS - EO #1.
As governor, Ed Gillespie will sign Executive Order # 1 immediately upon taking the
oath of office. EO #1 will detail the administration’s ethics policy and processes for
the executive branch, including gubernatorial appointees, to comply with beginning
on Day One.
EXTEND THE GIFT CAP BEYOND LOBBYISTS AND LOBBYIST
PRINCIPALS.
Ed Gillespie will work to extend the gift cap beyond lobbyists and lobbyist principals.
Ed will put forward legislation to apply the $100 aggregate gift cap to all individuals
who give to an elected official, except family members and personal friends.
PROHIBIT GIFTS TO THE GOVERNOR AND HIS FAMILY, CABINET
MEMBERS & ADMINISTRATION APPOINTEES.
As governor, Ed Gillespie will prohibit gifts of any amount to the governor, his
immediate family, his cabinet appointments, his staff and board appointees. There
will be an appropriate process for attendance at widely-attended events on behalf
of the Commonwealth and gifts to the Commonwealth that will be transferred and
properly recorded by the Library of Virginia or other appropriate agency.
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FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT
FOR A L L VIRGINIANS
SUPPORTERS
of the FAITH in our government for ALL Virginians’ Plan
“Integrity in service to others is and must be the most important characteristic of Virginia politics and governance. Ed
Gillespie’s strong pledge and specific Ethics reforms agenda will significantly restore credibility and enforce integrity in
the decision-making in Virginia government. Ed and his administration will be one in which all Virginians can be proud.”
FORMER GOVERNOR GEORGE F. ALLEN, Honorary Policy Chair
“Ed Gillespie’s ‘FAITH in our government for ALL Virginians’ Plan is a solid blueprint of specific steps to make government
more accountable and transparent. Ed has made a strong commitment to open, honest, and ethical governing. I am
confident that he will lead by example, and be the principled governor that Virginians expect and deserve.”
SPEAKER WILLIAM J. HOWELL
“Virginians should have total faith that their governor is acting ethically in every circumstance. They can have full
confidence that Ed will hold himself, his staff, and all elected leaders to the highest ethical standards.”
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER THOMAS K. NORMENT, JR.
“Ed Gillespie is a man of deep character and integrity, who always strives to lead by example. Ed has pledged to be a
governor for all Virginians, and that includes making state government more transparent and accountable to all of the
people it serves. The ‘FAITH in Government for ALL Virginians’ Plan’ will help ensure that we have the fair, open, and
accessible state government that is responsive to their needs.”
SPEAKER-DESIGNEE M. KIRK COX, Co-Chair of the Policy Leadership Team
“I am proud to endorse the ‘FAITH In Our Government for ALL Virginians’ Plan. Virginians deserve steady, trusted
leadership from their governor and that is exactly what Ed Gillespie will deliver. Today’s plan is an important step forward
in delivering on that pledge.”
SENATOR MARK D. OBENSHAIN, Co-Chair Policy Leadership Team
“Virginians can have confidence that Ed Gillespie will lead state government with the highest standards for himself and
his appointees. I commend Ed for putting forward a serious proposal that will make government more accountable for
all Virginians.”
SENATOR RYAN T. MCDOUGLE, Senate Republican Caucus Chairman
“As a legislator that decided not to take any gifts over a decade ago, I believe that Ed Gillespie’s ethics package is a
significant step forward. The plan is well thought out and provides strong transparency reforms. This package will give
Virginians greater confidence that our government is accountable to the people, and give them even more trust in our
public process.”
SENATOR STEPHEN D. NEWMAN, Senate Republican Caucus Vice-Chairman
“Once again, Ed Gillespie has produced a thoughtful, detailed policy that deserves praise. Ed’s pledge to serve as an
honest, ethical, servant leader is exactly what the people of the Commonwealth deserve.”
SENATOR GLEN H. STURTEVANT, Jr, - Co-Chair of the Government Reform and Efficiency Working Group
“Virginians must have the utmost faith that their elected officials are always acting in good faith. I’m impressed by the
plan that Ed has put forward, and all Virginians should be as well.”
DELEGATE R. STEVEN LANDES, Co-Chair of the Government Reform and Efficiency Working Group
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FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT
FOR A L L VIRGINIANS
SUPPORTERS
of the FAITH in our government for ALL Virginians’ Plan
“As a founder and co-chair of the Transparency Caucus, we have worked within the General Assembly to increase our
constituents’ accessibility to their government. We still have a great deal of work to do, and we need a partner in the
governor’s office who is also committed to smaller, more transparent government. Ed’s plan demonstrates he is serious
about making elected representatives more accountable to the people they serve. I applaud his efforts to move the
executive branch in that direction.”
SENATOR AMANDA CHASE
“I’ve known Ed and Cathy for years. They are honest and principled people guided by their hearts and faith. Ed doesn’t
believe in cutting corners or taking shortcuts. As governor, he will lead with honesty and integrity. He’s demonstrated a
steadfast commitment to good governance and meaningful ethics reforms. This plan marries his unwavering character
and his bold policy leadership in way that all of us should embrace.”
PETE SNYDER, Campaign Chairman
“I was running for governor on reform ideas, and Ed’s ideas on transparency are good ones. And they’d eliminate
advantages sitting elected officials have over citizens like me in running.”
DENVER RIGGLEMAN, Business Owner and Former Republican Candidate for Governor
“Like all government institutions, the governor’s office should be accountable and transparent. The plan Ed Gillespie has
put forth will take major steps to that end. He’s showing Virginians he will make fundamental changes to improve the
way the government operates.”
COURTNEY M. MALVEAUX, Former commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry and former member
of the Bolling-Boucher Ethics Commission
“It is not often we find a politician who is as open and honest as Ed Gillespie. The proof is in Ed’s 15-point “FAITH In Our
Government for ALL Virginians” Plan. His plans to open government meetings to all, place common-sense restrictions on
lobbyists and fund-raising, and creates a transparent state government long overdue.”
RICK BUCHANAN, Chair of the Virginia Tea Party Patriot Federation
“While the issues in this campaign are critically important, the character of each of the candidates cannot be overlooked.
Ed Gillespie is a man of his word, and he will lead by example. He will honor his pledge to be a principled, ethical governor.”
DR. NANCY DYE
To learn more or to endorse Ed's plan, go to
EDFORVIRGINIA.COM/ETHICS
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