A long time State employee and a Republican told me that Gilmore was the dumbest Governor ever. He couldn’t understand a biennial budget. They had to keep explaining to him that it’s a two year budget.

Allen had two really boneheaded moves. The Commonwealth spent god knows how much money sending techs around to each computer and deleting games - minesweeper free cell etc. He also thought VDOT was too bloated so he systematically fired engineers. They’d come in on Fridays, work until lunch, and then pack up their office in a box waiting for an email or phone call that HR need to see them. Virginia roads have never been the same. Oh and they hired the engineers back as contractors at more expense than previously including benefits.

I can’t remember which started the Standards of Learning. At no point did anyone at any level bring up that the acronym SOLs sounded bad.