Ward Armstrong

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Ward Armstrong
Ward Armstrong
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 10th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
1992
Born June 2, 1956 (1956-06-02) (age 52)
Roanoke, Virginia
Political party Democratic
Spouse Pamela Akers
Residence Collinsville, Virginia
Alma mater Duke University, University of Richmond
Profession attorney
Religion Baptist

Ward L. Armstrong is a trial lawyer and has been a member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 1992. He currently serves as the Minority leader.

Armstrong was raised in Bassett, Virginia, graduating from John D. Bassett High School in 1974. He then attended Duke University, where he earned a business degree in 1977. In 1980, Armstrong received a JD degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. During law school, he studied for a summer at Cambridge University in England. After law school, he worked as a law clerk to Justice W. Carrington Thompson of the Supreme Court of Virginia for one year. He has practiced law in Martinsville, Virginia since 1981.

He represents the 10th House district, and serves on the Courts of Justice, General Laws, and Counties, Cities & Towns committees. On 2007-02-24, Armstrong was elected Minority Leader of the Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates. As Minority Leader, he has organized the "51 Committee" to assist candidates in an effort to establish a Democratic majority in the House of Delegates.

As of early 2008, Armstrong said he would oppose closing an exemption for one-on-one gun sales between individuals from instant background checks (the so-called "gun show loophole"), even though he usually plays a key role in rallying Democratic support for Governor Timothy Kaine's agenda.

"My constituents pretty much expect me to oppose it," he said. "Carroll County is my district, and it¹s home to one of the largest gun shows on the East Coast." Armstrong, with two young daughters of his own, said he is filled with sympathy for the Virginia Tech Massacre victims but that it won't sway his opposition to closing the loophole. "As legislators, we have to be dispassionate when it comes to the law."[1]

The Virginia Fifth Congressional District Democratic Committee awarded Armstrong the A.L. Philpott Award for Leadership. He is past president of the Martinsville-Henry County Bar Association; a member of the Virginia Museum of Transportation's Board of Directors; and a member of the Norfolk and Western Historical Society. He has served on the Board of Deacons at Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church.

Mr. Armstrong and his wife, Pamela Akers, have two daughters: Courtney Lynn and Whitney Akers.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Despite Tech Shootings, Gun Show Rules Unlikely to be Altered", The Virginian-Pilot, 2008-01-06
  2. ^ Ward L. Armstrong Bio / personal information (2008 session). Virginia General Assembly. Retrieved on 2008-03-21.

[edit] External links


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