State board seats open to Virginia residents amid new administration
With terms expiring and a new governor in office, Alexandria residents can apply now for positions on commissions ranging from historic preservation to Potomac River oversight
With a new administration taking shape in Richmond, Virginia residents have the opportunity to apply for seats on state boards and commissions. Delegate Elizabeth Bennet Parker, who is set to be sworn in as senator tomorrow, highlighted the openings in a newsletter to constituents today, encouraging residents to research boards and submit applications.
Virginia maintains more than 300 state boards and commissions covering areas ranging from transportation to historic preservation to environmental oversight. Gubernatorial appointments are made on a rolling basis — roughly 900 per year — and the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office accepts applications on an ongoing basis, including for boards without current vacancies.
Here is a look at boards with connections to this region.
Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
The commission oversees the acquisition, restoration, and preservation of historic facilities in Alexandria’s restorable area. The Governor appoints two of its seven members. Both current appointees — Ricardo Navarro and William Patrick Wilson — have terms ending July 31, 2026.
Board of Visitors to Mount Vernon
The Board of Visitors to Mount Vernon reviews the estate’s operations and reports findings to the Governor. The Governor appoints all seven members. Current terms run through 2027, 2028, and 2029.
Northern Virginia Transportation Authority
The NVTA prepares and implements the regional transportation plan for Planning District Eight. The Governor appoints two citizen members: one must sit on the Commonwealth Transportation Board, and the other must have significant experience in transportation planning, finance, engineering, construction, or management. Both seats are currently filled through June 2028.
Potomac River Fisheries Commission
A bi-state body shared with Maryland, the commission manages fishery resources in the Potomac River, including oysters, crabs, clams, and finfish. Virginia holds four seats, one of which is an at-large gubernatorial appointment currently held by James Ashton Wesson, whose term ends September 2026.
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
This interstate compact body coordinates pollution abatement, water conservation, and development planning across the Potomac drainage area, spanning Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. Virginia’s two seats are currently filled through February 2029.
Potomac Aquifer Recharge Oversight Committee
The committee independently monitors the SWIFT Project’s effects on the Potomac Aquifer. It includes two citizen member seats — one designated for a water authority employee and one for a licensed physician practicing in the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area. Both seats carried term end dates of June 30, 2025.
The full list of Virginia’s 317 boards and commissions — including seat requirements, current members, and term end dates — is available through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s comprehensive board listing. Applications are submitted through the same office. Residents selected to serve are required to complete a financial disclosure statement and take an oath of office. Most boards meet quarterly.