Richard L. Saslaw

Richard L. Saslaw
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 35th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 1980
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 19th district
In office 1976–1979
Personal details
Born	February 5, 1940 ( 1940 -02-05) (age 71) 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.

Personal life

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.

Election history

Year		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
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

Majority Leader

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.

Political Positions

Gun Control

• In February 2011, Saslaw was one of eight senators on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee who “passed by indefinitely” House Bill 1573, defeating the bill by an 8 to 4 margin. The bill, also known as Castle Doctrine, would have allowed “a lawful occupant use of physical force, including deadly force, against an intruder in his dwelling who has committed an overt act against him, without civil liability.” ^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Senate of Virginia bio
2. ^ ^{a b} "Meet Senator Saslaw". Saslaw!. http://www.dicksaslaw.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={6192A01F-94C7-4436-AA16-EEA316C7E943}. Retrieved 2009-01-27. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ National Rifle Association, February 15, 2011

External links

• Constituent/campaign website
• Senate of Virginia profile
• Past member search for Richard Saslaw, from the Virginia House of Delegates
• Richmond Sunlight website
• Virginia Public Access Project
• Profile at Project Vote Smart

Persondata
Name	Saslaw, Richard L.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 5, 1940
Place of birth	Washington, D.C.
Date of death
Place of death