Louise Lucas

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

Louise Lucas
President pro tempore of the Virginia Senate
Assumed office
January 8, 2020
Preceded byStephen Newman
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 18th district
Assumed office
January 8, 1992
Preceded byHoward Anderson
Personal details
Born
Lillie Louise Boone

(1944-01-22) January 22, 1944
Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Otis Lucas
EducationNorfolk State University (BS, MA)
CommitteesEducation and Health (Chair)
Commerce and Labor
Finance and Appropriations
Judiciary
Rules

Early and family life

Born Lillie Louise Boone on January 20, 1944 in Portsmouth, Virginia, Lucas attended the Portsmouth Public School System, including during their shutdown during Massive Resistance.

She received her Bachelor of Science Degree (cum laude) in Vocational-Industrial Education from Norfolk State University in 1976 and her Master of Arts Degree (magna cum laude) in Urban Affairs with a concentration in Human Resources Planning and Administration also from the same institution in 1982.[3]

Career

Senator Lucas began her federal career in 1967 as an Apprentice Shipfitter at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), becoming the first Woman Shipfitter 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) and the following year was appointed Executive Director, continuing in that position until 1992. From 1992 – 1994 Lucas served as Congressional Liaison for Sponsored Program at Old Dominion University. From 1994 – 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]

Louise Lucas was elected to the Virginia General Assembly in November 1991 and continues to serve the citizens of the 18th Senatorial District. She has a seat on the following 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. She also serves as the Chairwoman of Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Committee in Virginia[3]

Lucas was the Democratic candidate to replace U.S. Congressman and Blue Dog Democrat Norman Sisisky in the 2001 special election, following his death in office. She was defeated by Republican Randy Forbes

In 2008 two companies which Lucas controls 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.[5]

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 with 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.[6] Senator Lucas has received numerous awards and honors at the local, state and national level.

On August 17, 2020 Lucas was charged with two felonies for an incident at the city's Confederate monument on June 10. She, among others, is facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and injury to a monument in excess of $1,000.[7][8]

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.[9] She has five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

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. The Virginian-Pilot, December 19, 2008
  6. Jamerson, Bruce (1996). The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia 1982-1995. Commonwealth of Virginia. p. 165.
  7. Coleman, Justine (August 17, 2020). "Virginia state senator faces felony charges after Confederate monument protest". The Hill.
  8. 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.
  9. "Otis Lucas 1939 - 2014 - Obituary". The Virginian-Pilot. June 19, 2014 – via Legacy.com.
Senate of Virginia
Preceded by
Stephen Newman		 President pro tempore of the Virginia Senate
2020–present		 Incumbent
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