Viola Baskerville facts for kids

Viola Osborne Baskerville (born October 29, 1951) is a lawyer and politician from Virginia. She served in the Virginia House of Delegates, which is part of Virginia's state government, from 1998 to 2005. Later, she became the Virginia Secretary of Administration, a top role in the Cabinet of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, from 2006 to 2010.

About Viola Baskerville

Early Life and Education

Viola Baskerville was born in Richmond, Virginia. She attended the College of William & Mary, where she earned her first degree in 1973. She then went on to study law at the University of Iowa College of Law, getting her law degree in 1979. She also had a special opportunity to study in Bonn, Germany, through a program called the Fulbright Program.

Starting in Politics

Before working for the state government, Baskerville was involved in local politics in Richmond. She served on the Richmond City Council from 1994 to 1997. During this time, she was also the city's Vice Mayor, working alongside then-Mayor Tim Kaine.

After her time on the City Council, she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. This is where state laws are made. She served in the House of Delegates from 1998 until 2005.

Running for Lieutenant Governor

In 2005, Viola Baskerville made history. She became the first African-American woman to try to get the nomination from the Democratic Party of Virginia to run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is the second-highest elected official in the state. She came in second place in the primary election, which is when a party chooses its candidate.

Serving as Secretary of Administration

After the 2005 election, Governor Tim Kaine chose Viola Baskerville to be a key part of his team. She became the Virginia Secretary of Administration in his Cabinet. In this important role, she was in charge of several state government agencies. These included the Virginia State Board of Elections, which manages elections, and departments that handle state services, human resources, and support for minority-owned businesses. She was the only African-American woman serving in Governor Kaine's Cabinet.

After State Government

Viola Baskerville finished her term as Virginia Secretary of Administration in January 2010. After that, she was appointed as the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Virginia. This role allowed her to continue serving the community by leading an organization focused on empowering young girls.