Louise Lucas

Lillie Louise Boone Lucas (born January 22, 1944) is a Virginia state senator, representing the 18th District in the southeast of the state since 1992. She is the floor leader of her Democratic colleagues in the state Senate. Democrats won a majority of seats in the 2019 Virginia Senate election, so Lucas succeeded Republican Stephen Newman as the Virginia Senate's President pro tempore. She is the first woman and first African American to hold that office.[1][2]

Louise Lucas
President pro tempore of the Virginia Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2020
Preceded by	Stephen Newman
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 18th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 1992
Preceded by	Howard Anderson
Personal details
Born	Lillie Louise Boone January 22, 1944 Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Otis Lucas
Education	Norfolk State University (BS, MA)

Early and family life

Lucas was born Lillie Louise Boone in Portsmouth, Virginia. She attended Portsmouth public schools including during their shutdown during Massive Resistance.

Lucas attended Norfolk State University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree (cum laude) in Vocational-Industrial Education from in 1976 and a Master of Arts Degree (magna cum laude) in Urban Affairs with a concentration in Human Resources Planning and Administration in 1982.[3]

Career

Senator Lucas began a federal government career in 1967 as an apprentice shipfitter at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), becoming the first female shipfitter there in July 1971. She also served as engineering draftsman and naval architect technician. Lucas later became the Command Federal Women's Program Manager at the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) and Equal Employment Manager at the Supervisor of Shipbuilding Conversion and Repair (SUPSHIP).[3]

In 1985 she left federal service and became Interim Executive Director of the Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project (STOP). She was appointed Executive Director of STOP in 1986 and held that position until 1992. From 1992 to 1994 Lucas served as Congressional Liaison for Sponsored Program at Old Dominion University. From 1994 to 1998, Lucas was Assistant Professor, Department of Academic Affairs and Special Assistant to the Vice President for University Advancement at her alma mater, Norfolk State University.[4]

She is President/CEO of Lucas Lodge, Lucas Transportation, Portsmouth Day Support Program and Southside Direct Care Provider organizations operating in The Lucas Professional Center located in Portsmouth.[4]

Political career

A longtime civic activist, in June 1984 Lucas began her formal political career by becoming the first African American woman to serve as Councilwoman on the Portsmouth City Council. She won more votes than any other candidate in that election.[3][5]

Louise Lucas was first elected to the Virginia General Assembly in November 1991. As a state senator she has a seat on the following Virginia Senate Committees: Education & Health, Courts of Justice, Finance, Local Government and Rules. She is member of the Finance Sub-committee on Claims, Finance Sub-committee on Economic Development/Natural Resources, Finance Sub-Committee on Public Safety, and Education Sub-committee on Health Licensing. Senator Lucas was Chairwoman of the Senate Local Government Committee and a former member of Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; Rehabilitation and Social Services; Transportation; former Chairwoman, Education and Health Special Sub-committee on Public Smoking Legislation; Sub-committee on Mental Health Legislation; Special Sub-committee on Immigration.[3]

Lucas was the Democratic candidate to replace U.S. Congressman Norman Sisisky in the 2001 special election, following Sisisky's death in office. However, Republican Randy Forbes won the general election.

In 2008 two companies which Lucas controlled applied for Empowerment Zone bonds to build a conference center in Portsmouth. The Portsmouth city council refused to issue the bonds, on a 3-2 vote with two council members who had a financial interest in the project abstaining. The companies, still controlled by Lucas, later filed a $97.7 million suit against the City of Portsmouth and the council members voting against the bonds and the City Attorney, claiming racial discrimination against because they were led and funded mostly by African-Americans. However, after the proposal was later reconsidered and again denied, the lawsuit was dropped.[6]

Senator Lucas serves on the Governor's Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring, Governor's Commission on State Funding for Public School Construction and the Governor's Commission on Information Technology. In 2010 she was appointed to the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation; in 2012 she was appointed to the Federal Action Contingency Trust Fund committee and in 2013 was appointed to the Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission. She is also an active member of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and elected Vice-Chair of Outreach by the Democratic Party of Virginia.[3]

Senator Lucas has served on various community boards, commissions, civic and service organizations such as: Past President NAACP (also Golden Heritage Member); Martin Luther King Leadership Steering Committee (also Charter Member) and the Norfolk State University Alumni Association. Senator Lucas is also a member of the following organizations: Delta Sigma Theta sorority (Golden Life status); The Links, Incorporated (Portsmouth Chapter); Order of Eastern Star (Brighton Light Chapter 118), Prince Hall Freemasonry of Virginia, National Women's Political Caucus, National Council of Christians and Jews.[7]

On August 17, 2020 Portsmouth's police chief Angela Greene charged Lucas with two felonies for an incident at Portsmouth's Confederate monument on June 10.[8][9] In early July, Lucas had filed a civil defamation case against Virginia Beach lawyer Tim Anderson, based on his social media posts and interviews about the incident.[10] On November 16, 2020, Richmond judge Claire Cardwell (sitting by appointment of the Virginia Supreme Court because local Portsmouth judges recused themselves) accepted the motion of the city's elected Commonwealth's Attorney, Stephanie Morales, to dismiss the criminal charges as based upon insufficient evidence, including of intent.[11][12][13] Police chief Greene had been placed on leave after filing the charges (usually the responsibility of the local Commonwealth Attorney), and fired by the acting city manager on November 16, 2020.[14][15] Virginia governor Ralph Northam and the American Civil Liberties Union, among others, had condemned the criminal charges as excessive and discriminatory, while Rich Anderson, head of the Republican Party of Virginia, said that Lucas should turn herself in.[16] The next hearing in the civil case is set for April, 2021.

Personal life

Senator Lucas is the mother of two daughters, Lisa L. Lucas-Burke and Theresa Lynn Lucas-Lamb who partner with her in various business entities and one son, the late Jeffery Lee Lucas, Sr. Her husband, Otis M. Lucas, who remarried after their divorce, also worked for various Lucas entities before his death in 2014.[17] She has five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Lisa L. Lucas-Burke, educated in the Portsmouth Public Schools and with two degrees from Norfolk State University, is a member of the Portsmouth City Council, and was vice-mayor in 2010-2020.[18]

References

1. Leahy, Norman (November 21, 2019). "Opinion | Social issues will loom large in Virginia Senate". The Washington Post.
2. Friedenberger, Amy (January 8, 2020). "History-making new Va. House speaker cites passing of 'new torch' with focus on diversity, empowerment". The Roanoke Times.
3. "L. Louise Lucas". Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
4. "Senator L. Louise Lucas (D)". Almanac of Virginia Politics. Schar School of Policy and Government. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
5. Holladay, Mildred; Burgess, Dean (2007). History of Portsmouth, Virginia. Portsmouth, VA: Portsmouth Historical Commission. p. 331. ISBN 9780979249105.
6. The Virginian-Pilot, December 19, 2008
7. Jamerson, Bruce (1996). The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia 1982-1995. Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 165.
8. Coleman, Justine (August 17, 2020). "Virginia state senator faces felony charges after Confederate monument protest". The Hill.
9. Alvarez-Wertz, Jane; Finley, Ben (August 17, 2020). "Sen. Lucas charged with two felonies for June incident at Portsmouth Confederate monument". WAVY-TV. Associated Press.
10. "'Not this time' | Sen. Louise Lucas files $20.7M lawsuit against lawyer leading recall charge". 13newsnow.com.
11. Matray, Margaret (November 16, 2020). "Charges dismissed against state Sen. Louise Lucas, all others in vandalism of Portsmouth's Confederate monument". The Virginian-Pilot.
12. "Updated: Charges dismissed against Sen. Louise Lucas stemming from damage to Confederate statue". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 16, 2020.
13. Matray, Margaret (September 4, 2020). "Outside judge will hear cases against state Sen. Louise Lucas and others charged in Confederate monument vandalism". The Virginian-Pilot.
14. "Portsmouth police chief ousted — at least for now — amid Confederate monument case". The Virginian-Pilot. September 4, 2020.
15. "Portsmouth fires chief of police Angela Greene". November 16, 2020.
16. "Black Virginia state senator charged with 'injury' to Confederate monument". The Guardian. Associated Press. August 18, 2020.
17. "Otis Lucas 1939 - 2014 - Obituary". The Virginian-Pilot. June 19, 2014 – via Legacy.com.
18. "Portsmouth, VA". www.portsmouthva.gov.

External links

• Senate of Virginia - Senator L. Louise Lucas, official government site
• "Louise Lucas". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
• Follow the Money - L Louise Lucas
  • 2005 2003 2001 1999 campaign contributions per "Follow the Money"
  • 2007 campaign contributions per Washington Post - Senate District 18 Race
  • "Recent campaign contributions per the Virginia Public Access Project". The Virginia Public Access Project. Retrieved March 11, 2020.</ref>
• Appearances on C-SPAN