Vivian Watts

American politician
Vivian E. Watts
Watts in 2012
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 1996
Preceded byAlan E. Mayer
Constituency39th district (1996–2024)
14th district (2024–present)
In office
January 13, 1982 – January 14, 1986
Serving with Jim Dillard, Robert E. Harris (from 1982–1983)
Preceded byGeorge W. Grayson
Succeeded byAlan E. Mayer
Constituency51st district (1982–1983)
39th district (1983–1986)
7th Virginia Secretary of Transportation
and Public Safety
In office
January 14, 1986 – January 1990
GovernorGerald Baliles
Preceded byAndrew B. Fogarty
Succeeded byJohn G. Milliken
(as Secretary of Transportation)
Robert L. Suthard
(as Secretary of Public Safety)
Personal details
Born (1940-06-07) June 7, 1940 (age 83)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDavid A. Watts
ChildrenCynthia Simpson, Jeffrey E. Watts
ResidenceAnnandale, Virginia
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
CommitteesCourts of Justice; Finance; Science and Technology
Websitewww.vivianwatts.com

Vivian Edna Watts (born June 7, 1940) is an American politician who is serving as a Democrat in the Virginia House of Delegates. She currently represents the 39th district, which includes part of Fairfax County.[1][2]

Between 2009 and 2019, Watts introduced and passed 45 pieces of legislation that became law.[3]

As of May 2020[update], Watts serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee, Vice Chair of the Courts of Justice Committee, and as a member of the Rules Committee and Transportation Committee.[4]

Career

Before entering politics, Watts was the Executive Director of Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates in cases involving severe abuse and neglect of children.[5]

Watts was first elected in 1981, and left to serve as the state's Secretary of Transportation and Public Safety in 1986; she was again elected to the House in 1996 and continuously since.[3]

In 2017, Watts became the longest-serving woman ever in the Virginia House of Delegates.[6]

Legislative issues

Watts' has focused on progressive tax policies and increased funding for education and transportation.[7]

In 2019, Watts said her top three legislative priorities were to restore transportation funding, restructure and expand mental health services, and make the state's school funding formula more equitable.[8]

Awards and recognition

Watts has been awarded the Virginia Counselors Association Outstanding Legislator Award, Virginia Association of Commonwealth Attorneys “Champion of Justice” Award, League of Women Voters of Virginia Good Governance Award, and the Virginia Interfaith Center "Legislator of the Year" Award.[7]

Personal life

She was born in Detroit, Michigan, but has been a resident of Virginia since 1963, and has four grandchildren. She married her husband, David Watts, in 1960.[2]

Watts has authored two books on public safety and criminal justice through a U.S. Justice Department grant.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Bio for Vivian E. Watts". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "About Vivian". Delegate Vivian Watts. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  3. ^ a b "LIS Virginia". Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  4. ^ "Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings". virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  5. ^ "Vivian Watts". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  6. ^ Schneider, Gregory S. (March 13, 2018). "Women who made history in recent elections are changing Virginia House". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c "About". Delegate Vivian Watts. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  8. ^ "Vivian Watts". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 31, 2019.

External links

  • "Vivian E Watts". Virginia Public Access Project. (campaign finance)
  • "Delegate Vivian Watts (D-Annandale)". Richmond Sunlight.
  • "Election Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-04-29.
  • Project Vote Smart - Representative Vivian Edna Watts (VA) profile
  • Follow the Money - Vivian E. Watts
    • 2005 2003 2001 1999 campaign contributions
  • v
  • t
  • e
162nd General Assembly (2024−2026)
Speaker of the House
Don Scott (D)
Majority Leader
Charniele Herring (D)
Minority Leader
Todd Gilbert (R)
  1. ▌Patrick Hope (D)
  2. ▌Adele McClure (D)
  3. ▌Alfonso Lopez (D)
  4. ▌Charniele Herring (D)
  5. ▌Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D)
  6. ▌Rip Sullivan (D)
  7. ▌Karen Keys-Gamarra (D)
  8. ▌Irene Shin (D)
  9. ▌Karrie Delaney (D)
  10. ▌Dan Helmer (D)
  11. ▌David Bulova (D)
  12. ▌Holly Seibold (D)
  13. ▌Marcus Simon (D)
  14. ▌Vivian Watts (D)
  15. ▌Laura Jane Cohen (D)
  16. ▌Paul Krizek (D)
  17. ▌Mark Sickles (D)
  18. ▌Kathy Tran (D)
  19. ▌Rozia Henson (D)
  20. ▌Michelle Maldonado (D)
  21. ▌Josh Thomas (D)
  22. ▌Ian Lovejoy (R)
  23. ▌Candi King (D)
  24. ▌Luke Torian (D)
  25. ▌Briana Sewell (D)
  26. ▌Kannan Srinivasan (D)
  27. ▌Atoosa Reaser (D)
  28. ▌David Reid (D)
  29. ▌Marty Martinez (D)
  30. ▌Geary Higgins (R)
  31. ▌Delores Riley Oates (R)
  32. ▌Bill Wiley (R)
  33. ▌Todd Gilbert (R)
  34. ▌Tony Wilt (R)
  35. ▌Chris Runion (R)
  36. ▌Ellen Campbell (R)
  37. ▌Terry Austin (R)
  38. ▌Sam Rasoul (D)
  39. ▌Will Davis (R)
  40. ▌Joe McNamara (R)
  41. ▌Chris Obenshain (R)
  42. ▌Jason Ballard (R)
  43. ▌Will Morefield (R)
  44. ▌Israel O'Quinn (R)
  45. ▌Terry Kilgore (R)
  46. ▌Jed Arnold (R)
  47. ▌Wren Williams (R)
  48. ▌Eric Phillips (R)
  49. ▌Danny Marshall (R)
  50. ▌Tommy Wright (R)
  51. ▌Eric Zehr (R)
  52. ▌Wendell Walker (R)
  53. ▌Tim Griffin (R)
  54. ▌Katrina Callsen (D)
  55. ▌Amy Laufer (D)
  56. ▌Tom Garrett (R)
  57. ▌David Owen (R)
  58. ▌Rodney Willett (D)
  59. ▌Buddy Fowler (R)
  60. ▌Scott Wyatt (R)
  61. ▌Michael Webert (R)
  62. ▌Nick Freitas (R)
  63. ▌Phillip Scott (R)
  64. ▌Paul Milde (R)
  65. ▌Joshua G. Cole (D)
  66. ▌Bobby Orrock (R)
  67. ▌Hillary Pugh Kent (R)
  68. ▌Keith Hodges (R)
  69. ▌Chad Green (R)
  70. ▌Shelly Simonds (D)
  71. ▌Amanda Batten (R)
  72. ▌Lee Ware (R)
  73. ▌Mark Earley Jr. (R)
  74. ▌Mike Cherry (R)
  75. ▌Carrie Coyner (R)
  76. ▌Debra Gardner (D)
  77. ▌Michael Jones (D)
  78. ▌Betsy B. Carr (D)
  79. ▌Rae Cousins (D)
  80. ▌Destiny Levere Bolling (D)
  81. ▌Delores McQuinn (D)
  82. ▌Kim Taylor (R)
  83. ▌Otto Wachsmann (R)
  84. ▌Nadarius Clark (D)
  85. ▌Marcia Price (D)
  86. ▌A.C. Cordoza (R)
  87. ▌Jeion Ward (D)
  88. ▌Don Scott (D)
  89. ▌Baxter Ennis (R)
  90. ▌Jay Leftwich (R)
  91. ▌Cliff Hayes (D)
  92. ▌Bonita Anthony (D)
  93. ▌Jackie Glass (D)
  94. ▌Phil Hernandez (D)
  95. ▌Alex Askew (D)
  96. ▌Kelly Convirs-Fowler (D)
  97. ▌Michael Feggans (D)
  98. ▌Barry Knight (R)
  99. ▌Anne Ferrell Tata (R)
  100. ▌Robert Bloxom Jr. (R)