Between them, Tim Kaine ’83 and Anne Holton ’83 have been a missionary, a fair housing lawyer, a local and state elected official, a federal clerk, a legal aid lawyer and a juvenile court judge, law professor, stay-at-home parent, nonprofit advocate and national party chair. On March 6, the husband and wife team gave a talk on how to construct a long-term public service career that is able to change and evolve and is meaningful, fun and that allows room for family, friendship, and community involvement.
The event, entitled “How to Make a Lasting Public Interest Career Part of a Happy Life: A Conversation With Former Virginia Governor and DNC Chair Kaine and First Lady Holton, was sponsored by the Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising and moderated by Henry J. Friendly Professor of Law Carol Steiker.
Kaine served as Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010 and as chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2010. In April 2011, he announced his run for the U.S. Senate in the 2012 elections. Before entering politics, Kaine spent 18 years practicing law in Richmond specializing in representing those who were denied housing due to their race or a disability. He also served as mayor of Richmond from 1998-2000.
Holton served as a legal aid lawyer for the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society from 1985 to 1998 where she helped create an award-winning volunteer lawyers program. She went on to serve as a judge on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for the City of Richmond. As First Lady of Virginia, she worked to reform Virginia’s foster care system and currently helps other states as child welfare consultant with the Annie. E. Casey Foundation.