Lobbyists & Legislative Liaisons 2021

2 Madeline Abbitt Notable Retirements After traveling 14 years all over the country for United States Steel Corporation, Doug got involved full time with Virginia politics, his old hobby. He served on the John Dalton for Governor Committee, and the John Warner for Senate Campaign. In 1979 he became the Executive Director of VAMPAC, the Virginia Medical Political Action Committee. In 1982 he then became a full- time employee of The Medical Society of Virginia. Other clients he served over the years include New Kent County, Virginian’s for Horse Racing, Tidewater Chiropractic Association, Virginia Rehabilitation Association, and Virginia Motorcoach Association. Doug wrote, “I very much enjoyed working with members of the General Assembly and other lobbyists.” Doug Douglas My baptism to the political world began in 1972 working on Al Smith’s campaign. I had a time of informally lobbying for education until 1983 when I began working for the Virginia Education Association (VEA) as Vice President then President. In 1992 I became Director of Legislative Affairs for the Medical Society before moving on to represent AT&T. Next I formed Abbitt Consulting and represented a myriad of clients. One of my fondest memories was meeting with A. L. Philpot who told me my bill had a fever. Al Smith worked his magic in getting it passing unanimously.