Lacey Putney

American politician
Personal detailsBorn
Lacey Edward Putney

(1928-06-27)June 27, 1928
Big Island, Virginia, U.S.DiedAugust 26, 2017(2017-08-26) (aged 89)
Goode, Virginia, U.S.Political partyDemocratic (until 1968)Other political
affiliationsIndependent (1968–2017)Spouses
  • Elizabeth Harlow
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1951; died 2005)​
  • Carmela Bills
    ​
    (m. 2007)​
Children2EducationOccupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician
SignatureMilitary serviceAllegiance United StatesBranch/serviceUnited States Air ForceYears of service1950–1954Battles/warsKorean War

Lacey Edward Putney (June 27, 1928 – August 26, 2017)[1] was an American politician. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from January 1962 until January 2014, making him the longest-serving member in the history of the Virginia General Assembly and one of the longest-serving state legislators in American history. He represented a district centered around his hometown of Bedford for his entire career, and at various times represented parts of neighboring Bedford and Botetourt counties.

Putney, a lawyer from Bedford, was first elected as a Democrat in 1961. He left that party later in the decade and began running as an independent, although he caucused with the Republicans from 1998.[2]

Putney announced in March 2013 that he would not run for reelection in 2013.[3]

Acting Speaker

In June 2002 Republican House Speaker S. Vance Wilkins, Jr. resigned following revelations that he had paid a staffer to keep quiet about "unwanted sexual advances".[4] Putney, then Chair of the Privileges and Elections committee, served as Acting Speaker until the following session in January 2003, when Republican William J. Howell was elected as Speaker.

Electoral history

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 19th district
Nov 7, 1995[5] General L E Putney 15,330 99.90
Write Ins 16 0.10
Nov 4, 1997[6] General Lacey E. Putney 13,195 78.39
Eric D. Thompson 3,635 21.59
Write Ins 3 0.02
Nov 2, 1999[7] General L E Putney 12,842 80.86
E D Thompson 3,035 19.11
Write Ins 4 0.02
Nov 6, 2001[8] General L E Putney 13,285 99.95
Write Ins 7 0.05
Nov 4, 2003[9] General L E Putney 11,393 73.42
A M Lipscomb Democratic 4,123 26.57
Write Ins 2 0.01
Nov 8, 2005[10] General L E Putney 19,152 99.16
Write Ins 163 0.84
Nov 6, 2007[11] General Lacey E. Putney 11,908 72.56
Lewis B. Medlin, Jr. Democratic 4,464 27.20
Write Ins 39 0.23
Nov 3, 2009[12] General Lacey E. Putney 15,297 64.13
Lewis B. Medlin, Jr. Democratic 4,922 20.63
W. H. "Will" Smith II Constitution 3,602 15.10
Write Ins 32 0.13
Nov 8, 2011[13] General Lacey E. Putney 8,883 41.61
Jerry R. Johnson Republican 6,775 31.73
Lewis B. Medlin, Jr. Democratic 5,670 26.56
Write Ins 18 0.18

2007 voting bills

As Chair of the Privileges and Elections Committee,[14] Putney blocked numerous electoral reform bills, including the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact[15] and bills to introduce Instant Runoff Voting on a test basis.[16] He then chaired the powerful Appropriations Committee.[17]

References

  1. ^ Lacey Putney, longest-serving state legislator in Virginia's history, dies at 89
  2. ^ Walker, Julian (2013-03-27). "Va. delegate ending legislative service after 5 decades". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
  3. ^ "Lacey Putney, longest-serving Va. lawmaker, to retire". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Associated Press. 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
  4. ^ Melton, R.H. (2002-06-07). "Va. Speaker Settles Sex Complaint; Wilkins Paid Woman at Least $100,000, Denies Accusations". The Washington Post. p. A1.
  5. ^ "1995 Election Results - HOD". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  6. ^ "1997 Election Results - HOD". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-07-24. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  7. ^ "Election Results - House of Delegates - Nov 1999 Gen Election". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  8. ^ "General Election- November 6, 2001". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  9. ^ "General Election- November 4, 2003". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 7, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  10. ^ "General Election- November 8, 2005". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  11. ^ "November 6, 2007 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  12. ^ "November 2009 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  13. ^ "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  14. ^ "Committee Chart". Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  15. ^ "Legislative Information System". Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  16. ^ "Legislative Information System". Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  17. ^ Virginia House of Delegates: Appropriations Committee

External links

  • "Virginia House of Delegates 2009; Delegate Lacey E. Putney". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
  • "Lacey E Putney". Virginia Public Access Project.
  • "Delegate Lacey Putney (I-Bedford)". Richmond Sunlight.
  • "Election Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2010-06-17.
  • "209 Bills Sponsored as of 2011". Open States.