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The governor’s good choice

5/2/2024, 6 p.m.
Last week, we reported that Gov. Glenn Youngkin had tapped beverage industry veteran Dale Farino as the new chief executive ...

Last week, we reported that Gov. Glenn Youngkin had tapped beverage industry veteran Dale Farino as the new chief executive officer of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC).

Mr. Farino, who most recently served as the vice chair of the ABC Board, seems to have the experience and knowledge for the position. A brief look at his resume shows stints at Breakthru Beverage Virginia,The Coca-Cola Bottling Company and serving as president of the Wine Wholesalers Association. We applaud the governor for hiring a qualified applicant for this position – and we he hope this positive change continues.

However, juxtaposed against this selection are two instances that raise questions about the thoroughness of the governor’s vetting process and his true intentions.

You may recall, about a year ago, a man the governor chose to be the state’s chief diversity officer, Martin D. Brown, proved he wasn’t the right choice for the gig. He announced “DEI is dead,” at an employee training program at Virginia Military Institute. A look at his résumé for experience in matters of inclusion and diversity won’t turn up much. We haven’t heard from him since his comments led to calls for his resignation.

Did he fire himself?

And then there’s the governor’s recent choice as a special adviser to the CEO of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. She’s Elizabeth Shultz, a former assistant superintendent of public instruction for the state. Ms. Schultz has no experience with cannabis policy. Granted, it’s a relatively new science, but something tells me the governor didn’t search high and low to fill the position.

As you may recall, the governor vetoed a bill that would’ve allowed the retail sale of marijuana in March.

The hiring of Mr. Farino shows that the Youngkin administration can find capable and knowledgeable people to work in our state government — when they are inclined to do so.