VPAP founder David Poole to step down

After 25 years at the helm of the Virginia Public Access Program, founder and director David Poole is leaving later this year.

Why it matters: As we all know, VPAP has grown from a one-man action to an indispensable money program in national politics.

• The site makes it easy for everyone from journalists to ordinary people to see who is donating cash to politicians and how those politicians are using the funds.

What are they saying: Axios spoke with Poole, a 62-year-old Richmond resident, about the group’s early days, how it has grown and what’s next.

Regarding VPAP’s stance as a “watchdog that doesn’t bark”:

• “We publish information, but we don’t point things out. We feel … leave it to journalists, advocates, opposition researchers — we won’t open up to accusations that we’re taking sides.”

For a moment, he knew he was making a difference:

• “There’s a particular elected official who reports every month that he’s buying $400, $500, $600 a month in ‘office supplies’ at Costco. Appetite is gone.”

The most important day of the year at this site:

• “Election night is our Christmas. … We’ve been releasing live results since 2011. … There was a gasp in the room when we showed the preview.”

On why he left the organization:

• “People who start things are often hard to let go. In the long run, it hurts the organization. So I decided to leave VPAP a few years too early instead of staying too long.”

On his next move:

• “I’ll take six months to think about what I want to do. We’ll see.”