UVA Center for Politics

Center for Politics
2400 Old Ivy Road
P.O. Box 400806
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Tel: 434.243.8468
Fax: 434.243.8467

Home > Programs > Gov. Project > Robb '01 > Panelists

First Panel Members

"Pre-Gubernatorial Career - the Realignment of the Democratic Party"

Hunter Andrews
Hunter Andrews has devoted much of his life to the Virginia General Assembly. From 1964 to 1996, he was a member of the Virginia Senate and served as the Senate Majority Leader from 1980 to 1995. While in the Senate, Andrews chaired several committees including the Finance Committee, Education and Health Committee, and the Privileges and Elections Committee. Andrews is also a former member of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, Judicial Council of Virginia, and Governor's Budget Advisory Committee. He was a member of the Southern Regional Education Board, National Conference of State Legislatures, and the Southern Legislative Council. From 1986 to 1987, Andrews was a member of the Executive Committee of the Governor's Commission on Transportation in the 21st Century. Hunter Andrews is currently practicing law in Hampton, Virginia.

Alan Diamonstein
Alan Diamonstein is currently a Delegate to the Virginia General assembly for the 94th District, a position he has held since 1967. A native and resident of Newport News, Virginia, Diamonstein attended the University of Virginia as an undergraduate, receiving a B.S. Degree in commerce. He also earned his LL.B. Degree here at the University's Law School. Previously, Diamonstein has served as Chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party between 1982-1986, Chairman of the Southern Democratic Caucus between 1984-1992, and was a member of the Democratic National Committee Executive Committee. In 1999, he was appointed by former-President Clinton to the President's Legislative Council. Diamonstein remains a Senior Partner in the law firm of Patten, Wornom, Hatten and Diamonstein.

Marge Fisher
Marge Fisher has been an editorial writer for The Roanoke Times since 1990. Previously she was a reporter for the Roanoke newspaper in its Richmond bureau where she covered the General Assembly, state government and state politics for 16 years. She has worked as a journalist for over 4 decades and has won several national awards and honors for her writing. She is a former president of the Virginia Press Women. She plans to retire at the end of July of this year.

Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson is senior writer and political reporter for The Daily Progress in Charlottesville. He joined the newspaper in 1976, covering police and court news for three years and state and local politics and government for three years before becoming city editor in 1982. He was named special projects editor in 1990 and senior writer in 1992 and now covers and writes a weekly column on state and local politics. Gibson worked as news director at radio station WCHV in Charlottesville for two years before joining the staff of the newspaper and now hosts a political talk show on WVTF-FM, public radio in Roanoke, Charlottesville, and Marion. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1972 with a BA in government and foreign affairs and attended the College of William and Mary for graduate studies in government. Gibson has won several Virginia Press Association awards since 1979, as well as the 1993 Virginia Bar Association Award in the Field of Law and Justice and the 1993 Southern Journalism Award for investigative reporting. He is married to Sarah McConnell, who produces the public radio program "With Good Reason." They have three daughters: Helen, Logan, and Stella.

Jeff Gregson
Jeff Gregson is a principle in the Richmond based lobbying firms Vantage Point Consulting and Jeff Gregson Associates. Upon graduation from Emory and Henry College in 1972, he worked in the Congressional campaign and subsequently on the Congressional staff of M. Caldwell Butler in the 6th District of Virginia. In 1977 he moved to Richmond to work in the Gubernatorial campaign of John N. Dalton and served as executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia during most of Dalton's administration. In the mid-eighties, he moved from the campaign side of politics to the policy side and began a successful career as a lobbyist for many national and Virginia entities including Dominion Virginia Power, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Virginia Beer Wholesalers and Children's Hospital King's Daughters in Norfolk. With his wife Teresa, they represent the YMCA's of Virginia and the Center for Governmental Studies at the University of Virginia.