Mary Sue Terry

Mary Sue Terry
Born	September 28, 1947 (1947-09-28) (age 64) Martinsville, Virginia
Residence	Stuart, Virginia
Nationality	United States
Education	B.A. 1969, M.A. 1970, J.D. 1973
Alma mater	Westhampton College of University of Richmond University of Virginia University of Virginia School of Law
Occupation	Lawyer
Home town	Stuart, Virginia
Title	Attorney General of Virginia
Term	1986–1993
Predecessor	William Broaddus
Successor	Stephen D. Rosenthal
Political party	Democrat
Board member of	First National Bank of Stuart
Religion	Baptist
Parents	Nathaniel Chatham Terry Nannie Ruth Terry
Notes [1]

Mary Sue Terry is a Democratic politician from Virginia, born September 28, 1947, in Martinsville, Virginia.^[2]

Early life

Miss Terry was an active and enthusiastic Democrat as a girl.^[3]

She was graduated from Hardin-Reynolds Memorial School in Critz, Virginia in 1965. She earned a BA in political science from the University of Richmond's Westhampton College in 1969, master's in government (1970) and law (1973) degrees from the University of Virginia and its law school.^[2]

Early career

Terry was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates (1978–1986) and Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Patrick County, Virginia 1973–1977. She successfully argued eight cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. She successfully negotiated a nationwide recall of 13,000 defective Ford ambulances and led a successful investigation and prosecution of individuals and corporations associated with Lyndon LaRouche. From 1990-1991 Terry was President of the National Association of Attorneys General and in 1992 she received the Wyman Award, which is the Association’s highest honor.

Attorney general

She was elected Attorney General in 1985 and reelected in 1989, becoming the first woman elected to statewide office in Virginia, the second woman to serve as Attorney General of any U.S. state, and the first non-federal elected official in Virginia to garner more than one million votes in a single election.^[4] In 1989, she considered running for Governor, but deferred to her fellow Democrat, then-Lieutenant Governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder, who became the first African-American Governor of any U.S. state.^[5] When she ran in 1993, then-Lieutenant Governor Don Beyer deferred to her. Beyer, a Democrat, would go on to run for Governor in 1997, losing to the Republican candidate, then-Attorney General James S. Gilmore III.

Candidate for Governor

She was Attorney General of Virginia from 1986 until 1993, when she resigned to run for Governor of Virginia against Republican George Allen. Allen won the November 1993 election despite Terry's early and significant lead.^[6] Her unpopular gun-control stance alienated her rural base voters. Her campaign was "lacklustre", and the religious right was a factor even though Michael Farris lost his bid to be Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Her opponents also pointed out that she was unmarried, and perhaps less empathetic on family issues.^[7][8]

Life after candidacy

Following her defeat, Terry was a visiting professor at the University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies.^[9] She served on the Board of Trustees at the University of Richmond from 1983-91.

She currently maintains a part-time law practice and consults for Microsoft,^{[citation needed]} living on her family farm in Patrick County, Virginia.^{[citation needed]} Since 1978, she has been a partner in Terry & Rogers, and a partner in the B.H. Cooper Farm, Inc., both in Stuart.^[1]

In 2008, with Susan Platt and others, she formed "The Farm Team", a PAC to "help Democratic women seek elected office." (Leslie Byrne is a Northern Virginia chairman.) In the last quarter of 2008 they raised $6696 and contributed $4000, including $1000 to Sharon Bulova's 2009 election campaign for Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County, Virginia. They solicited donations through the ActBlue web site in 2009. Miss Terry was featured speaker at a breakfast fundraiser planned in Richmond 7 February 2009, in connection with Jefferson-Jackson Day. That event was connected to a reception at the Governor's mansion, later canceled because Virginia law prohibits political fundraising by state officials while the Virginia General Assembly is in session. Democratic party officials argued the event did not violate that ban, because money had been collected before the session.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Awards and memberships

• Service to Youth award, Virginia YMCA, 1981,
• Distingusined Alumna award University of Richmond, 1984^[1]
• Patrick County-Stuart Chamber of Commerce (charter president and president, 1974–76)
• West Piedmont Planning District Crime Commission (1974–77)
• Ferrum College (President's board of advisors, 1978–83)
• West Piedmont Health Planning Council (1975–77)
• American Bar Association
• Virginia State Bar
• Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
• Omicron Delta Kappa (1980)
• University of Richmond (board of trustees)
• Patrick Henry Mental Health Center (board of directors, 1975–77)
• Virginia YMCA (board of directors)
• First National Bank of Stuart (board of directors, chairman)

See also

• Attorney General of Virginia
• Commonwealth of Virginia
• Governor of Virginia

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Mary Sue Terry." Marquis Who's Who TM. Marquis Who's Who, 2008. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC Fee. Retrieved 15 December 2008. Document Number: K2013007444.
2. ^ ^{a b} Baker, Donald P. (1993-10-17). "From Early Years, Powerful Lessons; Personal Experience Fostered Terry's Hard-Driving Image" (fee). Washington Post (ProQuest National Newspapers Premier database): p. A01. 7219521172195211. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=3&did=72195211&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1205973876&clientId=1452. Retrieved 2008-03-19. 
3. ^ THIBODEAU, DENICE (2008-02-21). "Former AG reflects on leadership". Danville Register & Bee (Danville, Virginia). http://www.registerbee.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=DRB/MGArticle/DRB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173354688967. Retrieved 2008-03-20. 
4. ^ "Top Vote Getters In VA". Virginia State Board of Elections. http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Election_Information/Election_Results/Top_Vote_Getters_In_VA.html. Retrieved 2008-03-20. "Mary Sue Terry - D - 1989 - Attorney General - Yes - 1,096,095" 
5. ^ Barrett, Laurence I.; Gavin Scott (April 17, 1989). "Battling An Old Bugaboo". Time magazine. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,957450-2,00.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15. "This year Wilder again headed off opposition for the nomination from Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, 41. Like any other Virginia Democrat, she would need very strong black support to win in the fall. Wilder denies that he threatened to play the racial card. Instead, he stressed that a contest with Terry would have been divisive. "Mary Sue is an attractive, bright candidate with a brilliant future," says Wilder. Translation: Terry can wait until 1993 for the governorship. She is doing just that." 
6. ^ Kaplan, Dave (1993-09-25). "Divine intervention?". Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report (EBSCO Host) 51 (38): 2580. ISSN 0010-5910. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=12&sid=6a387555-f080-4fa6-a6b2-4e57897e8f9c%40sessionmgr9&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bsh&AN=9310148154. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
7. ^ "Divine intervention?". The Economist (EBSCO Host) 329 (7836): 20–25. 1993-11-06. ISSN 0013-0613. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=21&sid=955044e3-ca52-4780-b505-343b22be35ba%40sessionmgr2&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bsh&AN=9311167780. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
8. ^ Clift, Eleanor (October 25, 1993). "Not The Year Of The Women - Governors: In New Jersey And Virginia, Two Female Candidates Fumble Away Big Leads". Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/122944. Retrieved 2008-12-15. "As a campaigner, Terry's biggest liability is not her lack of a family but her lack of warmth. "For a woman, warmth is necessary to bridge that chasm of trust that you have to cross," says New York Rep. Susan Molinari. "Otherwise voters wonder why in the world would a woman want...to be in this dirty game." In contrast, Terry's opponent, Allen, has come from 29 points behind largely on his carefully packaged looks and personality. A television ad shows him with his young son, mistily promising that, if elected, he will ask himself only one question: what will be good for Virginia? Sugary spots like these prompt campaign consultant James Carville to quip, "It's not the negative ads, it's the positive ads you have to worry about."" 
9. ^ "Career in International Investment Dream Come True for Kenyan Native Timanto Marima, '99". @Jepson: An Electronic Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. University of Richmond. 2006 June. Archived from the original on September 4, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060904131604/http://jepson.richmond.edu/newsletter/spring2006/timanto_marima.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-19. "...former Virginia attorney general Mary Sue Terry, then a visiting professor at Jepson." 
10. ^ "The Team « The Farm Team". http://farmteam.org/team/. Retrieved 22 January 2009. "Regional Chairs Central/Southside - Lorene Martin Lower Valley South Roanoke - Gwen Mason Norfolk - Vivian J. Paige NoVA - Leslie Byrne NoVA - Mame Reilly NoVA - Jane Vitray Peninsula - Gaylene Kanoyton Richmond - Julie S Copeland Richmond - Jennifer McClellan Upper Valley 10th CD - Karen Schultz Virginia Beach - Sandra Brandt 9th CD - Carole Pratt" 
11. ^ Craig, Tim (22 January 2009). "Governor's Mansion Reception Canceled - Kaine Acts After Learning Event Was Advertised as Democratic Fundraiser". Washington Post: p. B4. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012103539.html. Retrieved 22 January 2009. "We are a newly formed all-volunteer Democratic women's organization...(Susan Platt)" 
12. ^ "The Virginia Public Access Project - Farm Team". Virginia Public Access Project. http://vpap.org/committees/profile/home/2592. Retrieved 22 January 2009. 
13. ^ "JJ Women’s Caucus Breakfast « The Farm Team". FarmTeam.org. http://farmteam.org/2009/01/16/jj-womens-caucus-breakfast/#more-368. Retrieved 22 January 2009. "The Third Annual Women’s Caucus Breakfast, one of the events associated with the JJ Dinner, will be held on Saturday, February 7 [2009] at 8:15am. The featured speaker will be Farm Team Founder and former Attorney General Mary Sue Terry. Tickets start at $50 and may be purchased here. Full details are below the fold." 

External links

• U of Richmond - Leadership^{[dead link]}
• Historical Bio for Mary Sue Terry (Virginia House of Delegates) Session 1985
• Historical Bio for Mary Sue Terry (Virginia House of Delegates) Session 1980
• Virginia Public Access Project - Mary Sue Terry (campaign fund raising reports)

Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by ?	Delegate 13th District: Counties of Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania; City of Martinsville 1978–1981	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by ?	Delegate 10th District: Counties of Carroll (part), Henry (part), and Patrick; City of Martinsville (part) 1982–1985	Succeeded by ?
Legal offices
Preceded by William Broaddus	Attorney General of Virginia 1986–1993	Succeeded by Stephen D. Rosenthal

Persondata
Name	Terry, Mary Sue
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1947-09-28
Place of birth	Martinsville, Virginia
Date of death
Place of death