Jo Ann Davis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jo Ann Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 1st district
In office January 3, 2001 – October 6, 2007
Preceded by	Herbert Bateman
Succeeded by	Rob Wittman
Born	June 29, 1950 (1950-06-29) Rowan County, North Carolina
Died	October 6, 2007 (aged 57) Gloucester, Virginia
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Chuck Davis
Religion	Assemblies of God

Jo Ann Davis (June 29, 1950 – October 6, 2007) was a Republican from the United States Commonwealth of Virginia, who represented the state's 1st congressional district^[1] in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 until her death. She was the second woman and first Republican woman elected to Congress from Virginia.

[edit] Political career

Davis attended Hampton Roads Business College and worked in real estate before she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1997. She was reelected in 1999.

In 2000, 1st District Congressman Herbert H. Bateman, a 72-year-old incumbent, announced his retirement due to health concerns. He died on September 11, 2000. Davis ran for and won the Republican nomination to succeed him, despite Governor Jim Gilmore endorsing her primary opponent. In November 2000, she received 58% of the vote to win the seat.^[2]

She was the second Virginia woman (after Democrat Leslie Byrne, who served one term from the neighboring 11th district from 1993 to 1995), and the first Virginia Republican woman, elected to the House in her own right. The 1st is one of the most Republican-leaning districts in Virginia (no Democrat has won the district since 1977, and only the neighboring 7th district is considered more Republican)^[3]. Davis was reelected unopposed in 2002. She won a fourth term in 2006 against token Democratic opposition. Unlike Bateman, who was relatively moderate by Southern Republican standards, Davis was strongly conservative, especially on social issues.

Rep. Davis (left) (R-VA) joined Reps. Ben Cardin (podium) (D-MD) and Roscoe Bartlett (center) (R-MD) in calling for a study of homeland security needs of the National Capital region, including Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

During her tenure, Davis secured $169 million (after authorizing $229 million) for construction on the Navy's next-generation aircraft carrier, CVN-21, and more recently, $47 million for the removal of a portion of the James River Reserve Fleet, otherwise known as the Ghost Fleet.

In March 2001, the House passed Davis's first piece of legislation — HR 1015,^[4] the SGLI Adjustment Act, which increased the amount of Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance paid to beneficiaries of members of the Armed Forces who died in the performance of their duty between November 1, 2000 and April 1, 2001. Davis also advocated tax cuts, and believed that the federal government must rein in growth and spending.

Davis was endorsed by several groups, including the Virginia Sheriff’s Association, the Peninsula Housing and Builders Association, the Virginia Society for Human Life, the National Rifle Association, and the Madison Project. She received a 93% rating from the National Federation of Independent Businesses for the 109th Congress,^[5] a grade of 95% from the Family Foundation of Virginia, and an "A" rating from the NRA Virginia Political Preference Chart. Other ratings included a 0% from the National Education Association, a 23% from the League of Conservation Voters, a 0% from the Children's Defense Fund, and a 4% from the American Civil Liberties Union[1].

She was the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy.

[edit] Personal life

Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis and a constituent at the Deltaville Maritime Museum.

Davis was born in Rowan County, North Carolina, but lived in Virginia since she was nine years old. She graduated from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Virginia. Davis was one of four Pentecostals in the 109th Congress. The others are Todd Tiahrt of Kansas, Tim Johnson of Illinois, and Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado.^[6]

In 1974 she married Chuck Davis, the couple had two sons and were married for 33 years.

Davis was diagnosed in September 2005 with breast cancer and underwent a partial mastectomy on July 5, 2006 at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The pathology report indicated that there was no further evidence of cancer, and the Congresswoman stated that she would return to work as usual.^[7] She attended House sessions until shortly before her death, but had missed many votes.^[8]

Davis died on October 6, 2007 at her home in Gloucester, Virginia. She was reportedly recovering from a second bout with breast cancer, but her condition deteriorated rapidly over the previous week. Jo Ann Davis was survived by her husband Chuck Davis, two sons and a granddaughter.^[9]

[edit] Electoral history

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Jo Ann Davis at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Jo Ann S. Davis (VA) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database — voting record