House Republican leaders called on Virginia Technology Secretary Leonard Pomata to give up his dual role as head of the state’s information technology agency, citing an attorney general’s opinion that he can’t legally hold both jobs.
Pomata, shortly after being appointed to Gov. Tim Kaine’s cabinet this summer, stepped in as a temporary replacement for sacked Virginia Information Technology Agency Chief Lemuel Stewart Jr.
Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey said Pomata’s interim role is “winding down very quickly,” and he is expected to step down as soon as a replacement is named, possibly later this week.
“It was always understood that Mr. Pomata’s appointment was going to be interim,” Hickey said.
The tech agency has come under intense scrutiny from lawmakers after missing deadlines in a $2.4 billion contract with Northrop Grumman to streamline the state government’s computer systems.
Attorney General William Mims issued an opinion last week that found that holding both jobs is legally “incompatible.” The two jobs posed a conflict, Mims wrote, because the state’s secretary of technology sits on the board tasked with appointing and supervising the chief information officer. The attorney general had issued the opinion on behalf of Del. Sam Nixon, R-Chesterfield.
“There is no question that Governor Kaine and Secretary Pomata need to act immediately to determine in which one government role Mr. Pomata should serve and which one he should resign,” said House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford.
Kaine has said he believes the tech agency — the only state agency that doesn’t answer to the governor — should be put under his control.
