John Chichester
Encyclopedia
John Chichester was the President Pro Tempore
of the Virginia Senate. He represented the 28th district in the Senate from 1978 to 2007.
Chichester first entered the Virginia Senate by winning a special election necessitated by the death of Paul Manns. He was approached to replace retiring Congressman Kenneth Robinson
in 1984, but declined. Chichester won the 1985 Republican
nomination for Lieutenant Governor
, but was defeated in the general election by state senator L. Douglas Wilder, who would go on to become the first African-American state governor since Reconstruction.
Chichester returned to the Senate, where he accumulated seniority and was mentored by Democratic state Senator Hunter Andrews. In 1995 Andrews was defeated for reelection, and under a powersharing agreement in a body split 20–20, Chichester became co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee. When the GOP achieved majority status in 1999, he became the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
Serving in that capacity he has received criticism recently from conservatives for his positions on fiscal policy
and has been praised by the business community for his concern over the infrastructure requirements in order for Virginia to compete in a global market. He announced his retirement from the Virginia Senate in March 2007.
President pro tempore
A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...
of the Virginia Senate. He represented the 28th district in the Senate from 1978 to 2007.
Chichester first entered the Virginia Senate by winning a special election necessitated by the death of Paul Manns. He was approached to replace retiring Congressman Kenneth Robinson
Kenneth Robinson
Sir Kenneth Robinson PC was a British Labour politician who served as Minister of Health in Harold Wilson's first government, from 1964 to 1968, when the position was merged into the new title of Secretary of State for Social Services.-Early life:The son of Dr Clarence Robinson and a nurse, Ethel...
in 1984, but declined. Chichester won the 1985 Republican
Republican Party of Virginia
The Republican Party of Virginia is the Virginia chapter of the Republican Party. It is based in the Richard D. Obenshain Center in Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia.- Organization and candidate selection :The State Party Plan...
nomination for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The office is currently held by Republican William T. Bolling. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected...
, but was defeated in the general election by state senator L. Douglas Wilder, who would go on to become the first African-American state governor since Reconstruction.
Chichester returned to the Senate, where he accumulated seniority and was mentored by Democratic state Senator Hunter Andrews. In 1995 Andrews was defeated for reelection, and under a powersharing agreement in a body split 20–20, Chichester became co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee. When the GOP achieved majority status in 1999, he became the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
Serving in that capacity he has received criticism recently from conservatives for his positions on fiscal policy
Fiscal policy
In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure and revenue collection to influence the economy....
and has been praised by the business community for his concern over the infrastructure requirements in order for Virginia to compete in a global market. He announced his retirement from the Virginia Senate in March 2007.