Earlier today, freshman delegate Bill Cleaveland announced that he will not pursue a second term in the House of Delegates:
It has been an honor and privilege beyond description to serve in the House of Delegates and to represent the citizens of the Seventeenth District during this term. Although my tenure has only been one term, I will treasure the experiences I have had, the friends I have made, and the opportunity to play a small part in Virginia’s rich history. I have been impressed by the level of commitment, dedication and professionalism shown by the Members of the General Assembly, and in particular, the staff and support personnel who work so hard to make our Commonwealth a jewel of a place to live and to work. I am humbled by the trust that the people of the Roanoke Valley have given me in this opportunity to serve. This was an extremely difficult decision, but after consulting with my family, it is clear that as a small business owner with significant family commitments, I would not be able to provide the level of commitment to my legislative duties that I feel the job deserves. I look forward to continuing to be active in the community and will do whatever I can to help better the Roanoke Valley….
The significant family commitments Del. Cleaveland refers to is believed to include his wife Deborah’s health.
A Roanoke attorney, Bill Cleaveland was elected to represent the 17th District, comprising parts of the City of Roanoke, as well as parts of both Roanoke and Botetourt counties, in 2009 after the retirement of former delegate William Fralin. Cleaveland’s signature legislative achievement was the passage of his bill allowing the Roanoke City Public Schools and a handful of other public school systems across the Commonwealth to begin the new academic year before Labor Day. The bill earned bipartisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly, demonstrating Del. Cleaveland’s prowess at coalition-building.
On Twitter, Del. Cleaveland’s Roanoke Valley colleague, occassional Bearing Drift contributor and all-around good guy Del. Greg Habeeb offered a touching tribute to his fellow delegate:
Sorry that my good friend Bill Cleaveland won’t be running for re-election. He is a true public servant and I know this was a hard decision. Bill Cleaveland was an extraordinary delegate because he didn’t care about the politics. He just wanted to do what was right. That’s rare.
Rare indeed. While we hate to see an individual of Del. Cleaveland’s character and ability leave the House of Delegates, we wish him well and will be sending thoughts and prayers to his wife for a full and speedy recovery.
For those wondering how Del. Cleaveland’s retirement might impact the GOP’s ability to hold this seat in November, the Roanoke Times‘ political blog, “Blue Ridge Caucus” has an analysis here.
UPDATE: Speaker of the House Bill Howell released the following statement on Del. Cleaveland’s decision not to run for reelection:
“Bill Cleaveland is a great asset to his district and to our caucus. He is a sharp, principled and fair leader who I am sure we will hear more from in the future. My colleagues in the House of Delegates and I will miss him and wish him all the best as he attends to his duties as a husband, father and business-owner.”
“Bill has ably represented Boutetourt County, Roanoke County and part of Roanoke City for the last two years. His talents and experiences with the practice of law led to his appointment on the Courts of Justice Committee, as well as the Militia, Police & Public Safety and Transportation Committees. Bill pursued issues important to the 17th District, notably reforming the “Labor Day law” for local school districts. He also pursued broad, law and order reforms in the General Assembly, including the synthetic marijuana ban, advocating for the Castle Doctrine and various driver safety measures.”
“Like so many civic-minded men, Bill is a selfless man and a community servant, and I know this decision was very difficult for him. I hope that he will enjoy spending more time with his wife, Deborah, and family. I commend Bill, and thank him for his distinguished service. I wish him happiness at home and continued success in all his endeavors.”
UPDATE 2: In a press release issued this afternoon, Gov. Bob McDonnell says goodbye to Del. Cleaveland:
“Bill has been a force for good as a leader in the Roanoke community and in his time representing the 17th District of the House of Delegates in the Virginia General Assembly. As he departs the House of Delegates, the role he played in the passage of important transportation, public safety and education legislation will continue to be felt throughout the Commonwealth for years to come.”
“I wish Bill the best in his future endeavors. I know he will enjoy spending more time with his wife Deborah and the rest of his family, and I commend him for his service to the people of the Commonwealth.”
Update 3: The first candidate to plan to announce for the Republican nomination to succeed Del. Cleaveland is Roanoke businessman Chris Head. Head, who was the first runner-up in the 2009 primary won by Cleaveland, plans to make a formal announcement tomorrow afternoon at his office.
Dr. Ed Lynch, a professor of Political Science at Hollins University and longtime Roanoke Valley Republican activist, tells Roanoke news/talk station AM 960 WFIR that he expects at least a couple of additional candidates–possibly sitting members of the Roanoke and/or Botetourt County Boards of Supervisors–to emerge soon.
When William Fralin announced his retirement in 2009, five candidates vied for the Republican nomination. With the combination of an open seat, the Republican composition of the district and an election year in which the wind appears to be at the GOP’s back, another crowded Republican field seems likely unless a consensus favorite emerges.
