Mary Margaret Whipple
Encyclopedia
Mary Margaret Whipple is a Democratic
member of the Senate of Virginia
, representing the 31st District since 1996. She is the Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, and she is the first woman to hold a leadership position in the Virginia General Assembly
. On February 25, 2011, Whipple announced that she will not be seeking relection. Whipple also serves as a member of the Eighth District Democratic Committee and the State Democratic Committee
Perhaps Whipple's most notable achievement in the 2007 legislative session was inserting renewable energy
portfolio requirements in legislation applicable to Virginia electric utilities
. Her committee assignments in the 2010-11 legislative sessions were: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; Education and Health; Finance; Privileges and Elections; and Rules. Whipple believes Virginia's tax system is "grossly regressive
" and has sponsored bills to change it. Her bills would share state income tax revenues with localities and would increase the cigarette tax to 60 cents per pack. In 2001-02, Whipple served on the Commission on the Structure of Virginia's State and Local Tax System and Service Responsibilities.
Whipple was raised in College Station, Texas
and attended Rice University
. She holds a B.A. in English
from American University
and an M.A.
in American Studies
from George Washington University
. She was appointed to the Arlington School Board
in 1976 and served as Chair in 1978-79. Whipple was elected to the Arlington County Board in 1983-95, and was Chair in 1986. While on the County Board, she served as the Arlington representative to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
("Metro") Board in 1985 and in 1988-1995, serving as chair in 1990.
Among the possible successors in the 31st Senate District are: Delegates
Patrick Hope and Robert Brink
, former Lieutenant Governor
candidate Mike Signer, County Board member Barbara Favola
. , and lawyer
Jaime Areizaga.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Senate of Virginia
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
, representing the 31st District since 1996. She is the Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, and she is the first woman to hold a leadership position in the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
. On February 25, 2011, Whipple announced that she will not be seeking relection. Whipple also serves as a member of the Eighth District Democratic Committee and the State Democratic Committee
Perhaps Whipple's most notable achievement in the 2007 legislative session was inserting renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
portfolio requirements in legislation applicable to Virginia electric utilities
Electric utility
An electric utility is a company that engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity for sale generally in a regulated market. The electrical utility industry is a major provider of energy in most countries. It is indispensable to factories, commercial establishments,...
. Her committee assignments in the 2010-11 legislative sessions were: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; Education and Health; Finance; Privileges and Elections; and Rules. Whipple believes Virginia's tax system is "grossly regressive
Regressive tax
A regressive tax is a tax imposed in such a manner that the tax rate decreases as the amount subject to taxation increases. "Regressive" describes a distribution effect on income or expenditure, referring to the way the rate progresses from high to low, where the average tax rate exceeds the...
" and has sponsored bills to change it. Her bills would share state income tax revenues with localities and would increase the cigarette tax to 60 cents per pack. In 2001-02, Whipple served on the Commission on the Structure of Virginia's State and Local Tax System and Service Responsibilities.
Whipple was raised in College Station, Texas
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
and attended Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. She holds a B.A. in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
from American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in American Studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. She was appointed to the Arlington School Board
Arlington Public Schools
Arlington Public Schools is a public school division in Arlington County, Virginia. In 2010, there were 19,903 students, up from 18,715 a year earlier. In 2010, the students had come from more than 120 countries. There were 2,166 teachers....
in 1976 and served as Chair in 1978-79. Whipple was elected to the Arlington County Board in 1983-95, and was Chair in 1986. While on the County Board, she served as the Arlington representative to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
("Metro") Board in 1985 and in 1988-1995, serving as chair in 1990.
Among the possible successors in the 31st Senate District are: Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
Patrick Hope and Robert Brink
Robert Brink
Robert Greenleaf Brink is an American violinist, conductor, and educator. He is a professor of music at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts....
, former 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...
candidate Mike Signer, County Board member Barbara Favola
Barbara Favola
Barbara Favola is currently running to replace Senator Mary Margaret Whipple for Virginia Senate District 31 in the 2011 election. Favola has been a resident of Arlington since 1982. Favola is currently serving as Vice Chairman of the Arlington County Board. She has served as Chairman in 2000 and...
. , and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
Jaime Areizaga.
External links
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (VA) profile
- Follow the Money - Mary Margaret Whipple
- Washington Post - Senate District 31 Race