Vance Wilkins
Shirley Vance Wilkins Jr. (born August 12, 1936) is a retired American politician of the Republican Party. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1978 to 2002. In 2000 he became the first-ever Republican Speaker of the Virginia House and first non-Democratic Speaker since the Readjuster Party controlled the House in the early 1880s.
Vance Wilkins | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 1978 | |
| 53rd Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates | |
| In office January 12, 2000 – June 15, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Moss |
| Succeeded by | Lacey Putney (acting) |
| Minority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates | |
| In office November 19, 1991 – January 12, 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Andy Guest |
| Succeeded by | Richard Cranwell |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates | |
| In office January 11, 1978 – June 15, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Donald G. Pendleton |
| Succeeded by | Ben Cline |
| Constituency |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | Shirley Vance Wilkins Jr. August 12, 1936 Amherst, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Leona Elena Ehlert |
| Alma mater | Virginia Tech (BS) |
| Occupation | General contractor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1958–1960 |
Wilkins was considered the driving force in the expansion of Republican House membership in the 1980s and 1990s, especially after he became minority leader in 1992. In his first term as Speaker, he oversaw the redistricting of the House after the 2000 census that led to an increase in the Republican majority from 52–47 (1 independent) to 64–34 (2 independents) after the November 2001 election.
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