Creigh Deeds

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Creigh Deeds

Deeds at a campaign rally in Arlington, Virginia
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 25th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
December 2001
Preceded by Emily Couric
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 18th district
In office
1991 – 2001
Preceded by Malfourd Trumbo
Succeeded by Clay Athey
Born January 4, 1958 (1958-01-04) (age 51)
Richmond, Virginia
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Pam Deeds
Children Amanda, Rebecca, Gus, Susannah
Residence Bath County, Virginia
Alma mater Concord College
Wake Forest University
Profession Lawyer
Committees Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; Courts of Justice; Privileges and Elections; Transportation
Religion Presbyterian
Website www.deedsforvirginia.com

Robert Creigh Deeds (Creigh, pronounced /ˈkɹiː/, identically to Cree; born January 4, 1958) is an American politician and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Virginia in a rematch against Republican Bob McDonnell. Deeds lost the 2005 race for Attorney General of Virginia to McDonnell by 323 votes. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1992 to 2001 and has served in the Senate of Virginia since December 2001.[1][2][3]

Contents

[edit] Early life, education, and early career

Deeds was born on January 4, 1958 in Richmond, Virginia.[1] His family moved early in his life to Bath County.

After graduating from high school, Deeds enrolled in Concord College. He then entered the Wake Forest University School of Law, from which he received his JD in 1984.

[edit] Political career

[edit] House of Delegates

Deeds won election to the Virginia House of Delegates 1991 by defeating incumbent Emmett Hanger in a 57%-41% victory. This started a nine-year career in the Virginia House of Delegates.

In the House of Delegates, Deeds introduced several legislative proposals, including introducing Megan's Law to the Virginia General Assembly, which was passed in 1998.[4] Other legislation promoted by Deeds include environmental protection and anti-drug laws.[5]

[edit] State Senate

Deeds won a special state senate election in 2001 to succeed Emily Couric, who had died of pancreatic cancer.[6] During Deeds' Senate tenure, legislation that Deeds proposed includes:[7]

  • SB150 - Requires that direct recording electronic devices[clarification needed] be equipped to produce a contemporaneous paper record of each vote that can be verified by the voter and used in recounts. (2006)
  • SB891 - Requires the board of visitors of each public two-year and four-year institution of higher education to provide reduced in-state tuition rates for the children of faculty and staff members employed by the institution, effective for the 2008-2009 academic year. (2007) Not enacted, rolled into SB982 and left in the Senate Finance Committee.[8][9]
  • SB34 - Increases the mandatory retirement age for judges from age 70 to age 75. (2008)
  • SB669 - Permits ABC agents to check the national criminal database when conducting background checks on prospective licensees. (2008)

Deeds was also a proponent of a Senate resolution to close Virginia's so-called "gun show loophole," and made public appearances to generate support for the measure.[10]

[edit] Attorney General campaign

Main article: Creigh Deeds attorney general campaign, 2005

In 2005, Deeds and John Edwards—a Virginia state senator from Roanoke—each announced that they planned to run for Attorney General of Virginia in the Democratic primary. Edwards later decided not to run, leaving Deeds as the sole candidate for the Democratic nomination for the office.[11]

In the general election campaign, running against Republican nominee Bob McDonnell, Deeds ran on his record as a moderate Democrat who supported gun rights, strong punishment for criminals, and the death penalty. Deeds' stance on gun control included supporting a ban on semi-automatic firearms[citation needed], but that did not prevent him from earning the endorsement of the NRA, which cited his patronage of a state constitutional amendment that guaranteed the right to hunt.[12] McDonnell outspent Deeds by almost three million dollars (McDonnell spent $5,962,067 to Deeds' $3,103,585); $2,084,089 of McDonnell's campaign contributions were funneled through the Republican State Leadership Committee,[13] exploiting a loophole in state law that was closed by the General Assembly shortly after the election.[14][15]

The initial result of the vote was 49.96%-49.95%, with Deeds behind by fewer than 350 votes.[16] Due to the closeness of the race's outcome, Deeds announced that he would ask for a recount. Judge Theodore Markow of Richmond set the recount for December 20, 2005, a date so close to the inauguration that invitations to the event were mailed without a name for the Attorney General to be inaugurated.[citation needed] The recount reaffirmed the earlier outcome, and McDonnell became Attorney General.[17]

[edit] Gubernatorial campaign

Main articles: Creigh Deeds gubernatorial campaign, 2009 and Virginia gubernatorial election, 2009

Deeds announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for governor on December 13, 2007.[18] At the end of a close three-way race against former DNC chair Terry McAuliffe and former State Delegate Brian Moran, Deeds won by a large margin, taking about 50 percent of the vote in the June 9, 2009 Democratic Primary.[19] He faced former state Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the Republican nominee, in the November 2009 general election. McDonnell was selected at his party's nominating convention.[20]. Deeds lost the gubernatorial race to McDonnell, 41.25% to 58.61%.[21]

[edit] Electoral history

Main article: Electoral history of Creigh Deeds

To date, both of the elections Creigh Deeds has lost were to his 2005 Attorney General opponent Bob McDonnell, to whom he also lost in the 2009 Gubernatorial race.

[edit] Political Positions

[edit] Abortion

  • Creigh Deeds is pro-choice in the matter of abortion.
  • Deeds was endorsed by the Planned Parents Advocates of Virginia for his 2009 Gubernatorial run.[22]

[edit] Taxes

  • Deeds has stated that he will not make a no-tax-increase pledge and wrote in the Washington Post that he would support a new gas tax to fund transportation.[23][24][25]
  • In January 2009, Deeds proposed up to a $10,000 tax credit for businesses that made "job-creating investments."[26]
  • Deeds supported exemption of the sales tax on the purchase of solar or wind energy systems for homeowners.[26]
  • Deeds voted for a bill in the State Senate which would raise the Virginia gas tax 0.06$ per gallon over the next 6 years.[27]
  • Deeds is in favor of giving tax credits to businesses that produce green jobs.[28]

[edit] Consumer advocacy

[edit] Death penalty

  • Deeds supports removing the "trigger-man" clause, which restricts the death penalty to those who physically committed the action, in Virginia capital punishment law.[30]
  • In 2005, Deeds said that he disagreed with the Supreme Court ruling making it unconstitutional to execute juveniles. He argued that it was the jury's duty to determine when and where the death penalty should come into play.[31]

[edit] Gay marriage

  • In 2006, Deeds was part of the unanimous Democratic coalition that voted to oppose an amendment to the Virginia State Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage.[32]
  • Deeds announced he would be voting against the above amendment because he said that the Amendment went too far in its definition of marriage.[33]
  • In July 2009, Deeds stated he believes "Marriage is between a man and a woman" and declined to say gay marriage is a civil right.[34]

[edit] Gun control

  • Deeds was endorsed by the NRA during his 2005 Attorney General run over Republican Bob McDonnell.[35] In the 2009 gubernatorial race, the NRA endorsed McDonnell.
  • Deeds proposed a measure, which ultimately failed, that would eliminate private sales at gun shows. The bill's proponents called it a measure to prevent another disaster like the Virginia Tech massacre[36] even though the shooter purchased his firearms from licensed gun dealers and not at a gun show.
  • Deeds supports a state ban on the civilian ownership of assault weapons.[37]
  • Deeds signed a pledge to repeal that law that allows citizens to buy one gun a month.[38]

[edit] Illegal Immigration

  • Deeds voted to designate English as the official language of the Commonwealth.[39]
  • Deeds voted to make illegal immigrants ineligible for state and local benefits.[39]
  • Deeds voted against a bill allowing illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates.[39]

[edit] 2010 Redistricting

  • Deeds introduced SB926 to create a 7-member non-partisan committee to oversee the 2010-2011 Redistricting plan. The Bill passed the State Senate 39-0, but was killed by the House of Delegates' Committee on Privileges and Elections.[40]
  • Deeds has said that, if elected Governor of Virginia, he would use his veto power and amendment powers to try and force the House of Delegates into accepting a version of SB926.[41]

[edit] Education

  • Deeds' gubernatorial campaign has issued a plan called "Better Schools. Better Jobs" to detail Deeds' plans regarding education.[42] The plan calls for up to $15,000 in student loans for 4-year college students, and for creating partnerships with community colleges and traditional universities.

[edit] Transportation

  • Deeds has been criticized by the McDonnell campaign for lacking a coherent transportation plan. During the second debate between the candidates, McDonnell held up a blank sheet of paper as a representation of the Deeds plan.[43]
  • Deeds later wrote a column in the Washington Post laying out his plan, which includes the possibility of a new gas tax or other tax.[25]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Virginia House of Delegates. "Historical Bio for R. Creigh Deeds". http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/735bd5cd47938ad585256c23006d3f8a/e343daac1f7fee7885256b35005fb5fb?OpenDocument. 
  2. ^ Tim Craig (December 13, 2007). "Creigh Deeds Announces Bid for Governor". Washington Post. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2007/12/creigh_deeds_announces_bid_for.html. 
  3. ^ "Commonwealth of Virginia, November 8, 2005 - General Election, Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2005/nov2005/html/. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  4. ^ "HB 570 Megan's Law; community notification.". Virginia General Assembly. 1998-05-14. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?981+sum+HB570. 
  5. ^ Deeds for Virginia. "Meet Senator Deeds". http://deedsforvirginia.com/bio. "Using his relationships with law enforcement officers and his experience as a prosecutor, Deeds wrote the state law that has turned the tide against homegrown illegal methamphetamine drug labs. In addition to his work to cleanup the Kim-Stan landfill Superfund site, Senator Deeds also wrote one of the most progressive laws to preserve open space and protect the environment." 
  6. ^ American Cancer Society (October 19, 2001). "Emily Couric, Virginia State Senator Dies of Pancreatic Cancer". http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Emily_Couric_Virginia_State_Senator_Dies_of_Pancreatic_Cancer.asp. 
  7. ^ Richmond Sunlight. "Senate Creigh Deeds". http://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/rcdeeds/. 
  8. ^ Virginia General Assembly. "SB891 Summary". http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+sum+SB891. 
  9. ^ Virginia General Assembly. "SB982 Summary". http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+bil+SB0982. 
  10. ^ YouTube (January 26, 2009). "Senator Deeds Builds the Bipartisan Coalition to Close the Gun Show Loophole". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3S7V-8xhTo. 
  11. ^ Sluss, Michael. "Roanoke senator drops statewide nomination bid". The Roanoke Times (The Times-World Corporation). http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/xp-19578. "Roanoke state Sen. John Edwards has dropped plans to seek the Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general, saying he could not devote enough time to mount a competitive campaign. Edwards' decision leaves state Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County as the lone candidate for the Democratic nomination, which will be determined in a June 14 primary." 
  12. ^ Jenkins, Chris. "NRA Backs Democrat For Va. Attorney General". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/29/AR2005092902186.html. "Virginia Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, who is running for attorney general, received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association" 
  13. ^ "Attorney General". Virginia Public Access Project. http://www.vpap.org/candidates/election_seat/3?year_and_type=2005regular. 
  14. ^ Nuckols, Christina (2006-02-04). "Group says McDonnell backing wasn’t tied to one donor". Landmark Communications. http://hamptonroads.com/node/57281. "McDonnell has been working with lawmakers this year to draft legislation that will require the state leadership committee and similar groups to disclose their donors." 
  15. ^ "Mr. McDonnell's Dodge". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/27/AR2005102701924.html. 
  16. ^ Dave Leip's Election Atlas. "2005 Attorney General General Election Results - Virginia". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=51&year=2005&f=0&off=9&elect=0. 
  17. ^ Sluss, Michael. "Close race finally ends; McDonnell beats Deeds". The Roanoke Times (The Times-World Corporation). http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-45517. "McDonnell became the official winner Wednesday night when a three-judge panel in Richmond Circuit Court certified his 360-vote victory over Democrat Creigh Deeds." 
  18. ^ "Creigh Deeds Announces Bid For Governor". December 13, 2007. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2007/12/creigh_deeds_announces_bid_for.html. 
  19. ^ 2009 June Democratic Primary Unofficial Results, Virginia.gov. Retrieved on June 10, 2009
  20. ^ Kumar, Anita (November 8, 2008). "Clear Path to Governor's Race". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110703306.html. Retrieved 2000-01-06. 
  21. ^ {https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2009/37C2EDEB-FACB-44C1-AF70-05FB616DCD62/UnOfficial/2_s.shtml |title= Virginia State Board of Elections, November 2009 General Election unofficial results}
  22. ^ Steven Ertlet (July 17, 2009). "Virginia Governor Candidate Deeds Gets of Pro-Abortion Organization". Life News. http://www.lifenews.com/state4303.html. 
  23. ^ The Washington Post (September 18, 2009). "Deeds in a Bit of a Bind on Taxes, Transportation". http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/17/AR2009091704681.html?hpid=topnews. 
  24. ^ The Washington Post (February 1, 2009). "Candidate Closer to N.Va. Than It Seems". http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/31/AR2009013101803.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns. 
  25. ^ a b Creigh Deeds (September 23, 2009). "My Transportation Plan". http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/22/AR2009092202643.html. 
  26. ^ a b The Richmond Times Dispatch (January 14, 2009). "McDonnell, Deeds pushing Tax credits". http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/MCCDGATER15_20090114-174212/178258/. 
  27. ^ The Washington Post (July 11, 2008). "Moran and Deeds Debate Gas Tax Increase". http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2008/07/moran_and_deeds_debate_gas_tax.html. 
  28. ^ HamptonRoads.com (January 18, 2009). "State tax breaks unlikely in slumping economy". http://hamptonroads.com/2009/01/state-tax-breaks-unlikely-slumping-economy. 
  29. ^ DeedsforVirginia. "Protecting Virginia's Consumers". http://deedsforvirginia.com/node/7. 
  30. ^ The Washington Post (January 27, 2009). "Maryland and Virginia go Separate ways on Death Penalty". http://voices.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2009/01/maryland_virginia_go_separate.html. 
  31. ^ HighBeam Research (March 31, 2005). "Deeds discusses drug prices, death penalty.". http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-131100056.html. 
  32. ^ The Roanoke Times (June 28, 2006). "Democrats officially against gay marriage amendment". http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-71457. 
  33. ^ Blogging the Amendment. "Deeds Announces He Will be Voting NO on Ballot Question #1". http://votenova.wordpress.com/2006/10/23/deeds-announces-he-will-be-voting-no-on-ballot-question-1/. Retrieved April 20, 2009. 
  34. ^ "Criegh Deeds on Gay Marriage". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDofIHR6eyo. Retrieved September 13, 2009. 
  35. ^ HighBeam Research (September 30, 2005). "NRA endorses Deeds in state race". http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-136975561.html. 
  36. ^ The Washington Post (January 24, 2009). "Senate Panel Defeats Bill on Gun Show Sales". http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/23/AR2008012303558.html. 
  37. ^ "Dems and guns". June 9, 2009. http://www.nfmpolitico.com/kpix/2009/06/09/dems-and-guns/#more-28571. 
  38. ^ Mark Murray (September 24, 2009). "Wilder Won't Endorse Deeds". MSNBC.com. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/09/24/2079626.aspx. Retrieved October 30, 2009. 
  39. ^ a b c Kumar, Anita (Washington Post) (May 17, 2009). "Conservatism Could Hurt Deeds in Democratic Race". http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/16/AR2009051602257.html. Retrieved June 10, 2009. 
  40. ^ Richmond Sunlight. "Bipartisan Redistricting Commission; created. (SB926)". http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2009/sb926/. Retrieved March 28, 2009. 
  41. ^ Decision Virginia, NBC 12 (February 17, 2009). "Deeds fights for redistricting plan". http://nbc12.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/deeds-presents-redistricting-plan/. Retrieved March 28, 2009. 
  42. ^ Deeds for Virginia. "Better Schools. Better Jobs". http://deedsforvirginia.com/betterschools. Retrieved May 23, 2009. 
  43. ^ "Gubernatorial Debate Turns Contentious in Va.". http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/GOVS18_20090917-222403/293728/. Retrieved Oct. 5, 2009. 
Party political offices
Preceded by
Tim Kaine		 Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Virginia
2009		 Succeeded by
None
v • d • e
Current members of the Senate of Virginia
State seal of Virginia
Democratic (21) • Republican (19)


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