Gerald Connolly, already one of Northern Virginia’s most powerful men, took the helm this month as chair of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.

The commission’s unanimous vote to appoint the Fairfax County Board chairman as its newest leader strengthens his influence in the region, putting him in the running as the most connected politician in the alphabet soup of Northern Virginia government.

Connolly, a Democrat, also sits on the boards of the Virginia Association of Counties, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

As chair of the regional commission, a group that handles cross-jurisdictional projects, he wants to build what he calls an “emerging common agenda” among local governments.

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“I think we’ll renew our emphasis on emergency preparedness in the region,” he said. “And we’ll try to build more cooperation and cohesion among the jurisdictions in Northern Virginia.”

The Northern Virginia Regional Commission, at least publicly, is one of the area’s least understood groups.

Its board of 25 local officials represents 14 local governments and handles a budget of just over $14 million, according to Executive Director Mark Gibb.

The commission recently approved a plan to study the region’s water needs.

It is also conducting programs in HIV funding, gangs, energy conservation and emergency preparedness, he said.

Connolly is up for election in November. He is opposed by Republican Gary Baise.

wflook@dcexaminer.com