By Cody Mello-Klein | cmelloklein@alextimes.com
Gov. Ralph Northam appointed former Mayor Bill Euille to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s Board of Directors on Dec. 20, according to Virginia ABC.
The ABC regulates the possession, sale, transportation and delivery of alcoholic beverages within Virginia, issues business licenses and operates government stores that sell spirits and wine. The board of directors, along with the CEO and executive leadership, oversees the agency’s policies and exercises regulatory authority, according to ABC.
Euille joins four other part-time board members due to his background as a politician, business owner and community leader, ABC CEO Travis Hill said in a statement.
“We are encouraged by Bill Euille’s ability to balance the demands of business with the philosophy of accountability to the public,” Hill said. “Both his business background and history of public service will assist in operating our organization based on strong fundamentals from both arenas.”
Euille, who has also served on the board of directors for ACT for Alexandria, the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria and Volunteer Alexandria, said he was honored to receive the appointment.
“I was very excited and thankful to the Governor for having the confidence in me to serve on such an important board,” Euille said in an email. “… I will be a visionary in terms of how to grow the revenue base and a good listening ear, to help Virginia maintain its market competitiveness.”
In 2020, Virginia ABC plans to launch a new online licensing system. The agency has also placed an emphasis on license and fee reform in the coming year, as well as remodeling its 387 stores over the next few months, according to Virginia ABC.
