| Richard L. Saslaw | |
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| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 35th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1980 |
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| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 19th district |
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| In office 1976–1979 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | February 5, 1940 Washington, D.C. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanor |
| Children | Jennifer |
| Residence | Fairfax County, Virginia |
| Alma mater | University of Maryland |
| Occupation | Service station operator |
| Committees | Commerce and Labor (chair); Courts of Justice; Education and Health; Finance; Rules |
| Website | www.dicksaslaw.com |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1958–60 |
Richard Lawrence "Dick" Saslaw (born February 5, 1940, in Washington, D.C.) is an American politician. A conservative Democrat, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates 1976–80, after which he was elected to the Senate of Virginia. He currently represents[update] the 35th district, made up of parts of Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria.[1]
Saslaw has been the Democratic leader of the Senate since 1996, serving as Minority Leader 1998–2007 and Majority Leader since 2008.[1] He ran for Congress in Virginia's 8th district in 1984. He was defeated by then-Congressman Stanford Parris.
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Saslaw was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in the suburbs. He served in the United States Army (1958–60), before receiving a B.S. degree in economics from the University of Maryland. After that, he went into the gasoline service station business.[1][2]
Saslaw and his wife Eleanor, a retired guidance director and member of the Virginia State Board of Education, settled in northern Virginia in 1968. Their daughter, Jennifer, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.[2] and her law degree from Stanford Law School. They live in Springfield, VA.
| Year | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||||
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| 8th Congressional District of Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Richard L. Saslaw | Democratic | 97,250 | 43.3 | Stanford Parris | Republican | 125,015 | 55.7 | ||||||||
| 35th Virginia Senate District | ||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Richard L. Saslaw | Democratic | 17,735 | 82.48 | C W Levy | Independent | 3,537 | 16.45 | ||||||||
| 2007 | Richard L. Saslaw | Democratic | 16,856 | 77.94 | Mario T. Palmiotto | Independent Green | 4,532 | 20.95 | ||||||||
In the 2007 Virginia legislative elections, Democrats gained a majority by picking up four seats in the Virginia State Senate. Senator Saslaw was named Majority Leader when the Democrats assumed control of the chamber in 2008.
He also serves as chair of the Senate's Labor and Commerce Committee.
Education has been one of his priorities. In 2006, the Association of School Boards named him Virginia Legislator of the Year.
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