[Posted Dec. 12, 2007]

Area Women Legislators
Gain Seats on Virginia’s
Senate Committees

         Democrats with a 21-19 seat  majority in the Virginia Senate, after a decade of being in the minority, have named seven women among 11 committee assignments. Four committees will be led by African Americans and six by representatives from new Democratic power base Northern Virginia.
       Assignment to a committee either as a member or chair is based on seniority or the number of years one has served in the legislative body.
       Some committee chairmanships include:
       Senators Yvonne B. Miller of Norfolk, Louise Lucas of Portsmouth and Mamie Locke of Hampton, who will lead committees on transportation, local government and general laws, and technology, respectively.
       Senator Henry L. Marsh III of Richmond will be chair of the Courts of Justice, the fourth Black chairman of a committee. Marsh is also Caucus Treasurer.
       Senator Miller said three African Americans, including herself, will be named to the Senate Finance Committee which writes and approves taxation and spending bills.
       She said she hopes that Democrats and Republicans in the Senate will now “begin to work together on many issues.  There is so much to be done on so many concerns in our state.”

Yvonne B. Miller

Marnie Locke

Louise Lucas

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