ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, July 4, 1996 TAG: 9607050065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: HOLIDAY
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
State Secretary of Finance Paul Timmreck, who served in the Cabinets of Democratic Gov. Douglas Wilder and Republican Gov. George Allen, announced his resignation Wednesday.
Timmreck, 51, will become vice president of finance and administration at Virginia Commonwealth University, effective Aug.1.
He is the latest administration official to leave well before Allen's term ends in January 1998. Among the others are Secretary of Health and Human Resources Kay Coles James; Superintendent of Public Instruction William Bosher; and Frank Atkinson, the governor's top lawyer.
Timmreck worked on Capitol Square for more than two decades, rising from the Senate Finance Committee staff to director of the Department of Planning and Budget, then to the state's top financial post.
``It's been a tremendous run,'' Timmreck said. ``When we came down here 21 years ago, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have a chance to work for four governors.''
He said he decided last winter he did not want to work in any future Cabinet, and then the VCU post came along.
``Quite frankly, I'm not running from this job as much as running to the VCU opportunity,'' he said.
Allen praised Timmreck for his professionalism and his prudent management of state funds.
``Paul's dedication to responsible financial management and his understanding of the importance of fiscal restraint have served Virginia well in resisting the ever-present urge to raise taxes, retaining our AAA bond rating and effectively managing the commonwealth's debt capacity,'' Allen said.
Timmreck's tenure wasn't all rosy. He had to contend with a recession during the Wilder administration, then the tension that came with working for a Republican governor dealing with a Democrat-controlled legislature.
House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Vinton, perturbed because Timmreck was defending Allen's plan to finance prisons with bonds, once referred to him as ``the secretary of debt.''
Timmreck said tension ``comes with the territory,'' and he had nothing but praise for Virginia lawmakers. ``The caliber of elected officials in general in Virginia is way ahead of most other states,'' he said.
LENGTH: Short : 50 linesby CNB