Schumer Announces FEC Nominee Lee Goodman and Ann Ravel Clear Senate Rules Committee

The nominees will fill Democratic and
Republican vacancies on the Federal Election Commission

Schumer: Once confirmed, Goodman and Ravel can
help restore the agency to fully functioning watchdog for the nation’s
campaign finance laws  

WASHINGTON, DC-- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, announced that Lee Goodman and Ann Ravel, nominees to the Federal Election Commission, have been reported out to the full Senate by the Committee. Both nominees were unanimously reported out of committee today by a voice vote. The nominees will now be placed on the Senate’s Executive Calendar. 

Federal law requires that no more than three commissioners to the FEC belong to the same party. Ravel would fill a partial term expiring in 2017 held by a Democrat, and Goodman would fill a partial term expiring in 2015 held by a Republican. The FEC currently has five Commissioners serving.

“The Commission is designed to play a critical role in our campaign finance system,” Schumer said. “It is my hope that, once confirmed, Mr. Goodman and Ms. Ravel will work hard to restore the agency to a fully functioning independent federal watchdog for
the nation’s campaign finance laws.” 

Mr. Goodman 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. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from the University Of Virginia School Of Law. 

Ms. Ravel 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. She 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.