Schumer Urges Confirmation of Lee Goodman and Ann Ravel as Newest Members of the Federal Election Commission - Swift Confirmation Essential to the Continued Functioning of the Agency

Press Release

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, held a hearing to consider the nominations of Lee Goodman and Ann Ravel as Members of the Federal Election Commission. After hearing testimony from the two nominees, Schumer urged the swift confirmation of both nominees by the full Senate. Federal law requires that no more than 3 Commissioners to the FEC belong to the same party. Ravel would fill a partial term held by a Democrat expiring in 2017, and Goodman would fill a partial term held by a Republican expiring in 2015.

"The two nominees before us will join the FEC at a critical juncture. I am hopeful that Ravel and Goodman can restore the missing spirit of bipartisanship to the gridlocked agency and get the Commission back on the right track," Schumer said. "The FEC was created as an aggressive, independent watchdog agency, and that spirit has been sorely lacking in recent years."

Given the difficulties the FEC has faced recently in getting the required 4 votes to take action, Schumer is hopeful that these two nominees will work together to usher in a more cooperative working relationship between Commissioners of both parties.

Mr. Goodman earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from the University Of Virginia School Of Law. He has been a Partner with LeClairRyan since 2005. Prior to holding that position, he was a Counsel at Wiley Rein LLP from 2002 and an Associate there from 1990 to 1995. He served as Deputy Counselor to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and Deputy Director of Policy from 1999 to 2002 and as Special Counsel to the Governor from 1998 to 1999. He previously served as Counsel to the Attorney General of Virginia and as Special Assistant Attorney General and Associate General Counsel at the University of Virginia.

Ms. Ravel earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkley and a J.D. from the University of Virginia, Hastings College of the Law. She has been the Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission since March 2011. Prior to holding that position, she served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Torts and Consumer Litigation in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 2009 to 2011 and as County Counsel of Santa Clara County from 1998 to 2009. She was previously a member of the Judicial Council of the State of California and Chair of the State Bar of California's Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation.

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