Ruth Rowan (born September 12, 1948) is an American politician from the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...

. She is a member of the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

and served as a member the

West Virginia House of Delegates The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates. Organization Regular sessions begin with ...

from the 57th District, which represented parts of Mineral County and Hampshire County in West Virginia's

Eastern Panhandle The Eastern Panhandle is the eastern of the two panhandles in the U.S. state of West Virginia; the other is the Northern Panhandle. It is a small stretch of territory in the northeast of the state, bordering Maryland and Virginia. Some sources a ...

. In 2004, she defeated the embattled House Delegate

Jerry Mezzatesta Jerry Mezzatesta is an American Democratic Party politician, who has represented the U.S. state of West Virginia. He was the West Virginia House of Delegates member from the 50th District which represents Mineral County and Hampshire County in ...

for his seat after he was embroiled in a political scandal in 2003-04.

Personal life

Rowan was born in

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. She was received her B.S. and M. Ed. from

California University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Western University, California (commonly known as PennWest California) is a public university campus in California, Pennsylvania and one of three campuses of Pennsylvania Western University, part of the Pennsylvania State System o ...

. She is a long-serving and now retired elementary school teacher in

Hampshire County Schools Hampshire County Schools is the operating school district within Hampshire County, West Virginia, Hampshire County, West Virginia. It is governed by the Hampshire County Board of Education. Schools High schools Serves grades 9-12 *Hampshire High S ...

. She married Tom Rowan and they had two children, Julie and Tom. The granddaughter of a coal miner, Rowan is one of few West Virginia Republicans endorsed by the

United Mine Workers of America The United Mine Workers of America (UMW or UMWA) is a North American Labor history of the United States, labor union best known for representing coal miners. Today, the Union also represents health care workers, truck drivers, manufacturing worke ...

. She has been endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, the AFL-CIO, West Virginians for Life, and the National Rifle Association. A descendant of Frontier Ranger Doctor Llewellyn, her earliest forebears blazed a trail in the wilderness near the Forks of Cheat River in present-day Monongalia County, West Virginia.

Career

The West Virginia House of Delegates had often been reminded of West Virginia's most senior county by Rowan, who began each floor presentation with the phrase "from West Virginia's oldest county". She championed infrastructure, senior, veteran, children, education and healthcare issues. She was appointed to represent West Virginia in the United States' Southern Regional Education Conference to help shape emerging issues in education. Rowan enjoyed broad based bipartisan support in both Charleston and her home district, as demonstrated by her strong showing in both primary and general elections. In the general election of 2010, Rowan garnered 72% of the vote, despite the endorsement of a well-funded challenger by several popular state and local elected officials.

References

External links

Ruth Rowan (R - Hampshire, 57)
at the West Virginia House of Delegates * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rowan, Ruth 1948 births Schoolteachers from West Virginia American women educators California University of Pennsylvania alumni Living people Republican Party members of the West Virginia House of Delegates People from Hampshire County, West Virginia West Virginia University alumni Women state legislators in West Virginia 21st-century American legislators 21st-century American women politicians

Personal life

Career

See also

References

External links