Robert Lee Ware, Jr. (born August 20, 1952) is an American politician. Since 1998 he has served in the

Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two parts of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbe ...

, representing the 65th district west of

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

, consisting of the entirety of his home county of Powhatan, the precincts of Skinquarter, Tomahawk, Woolridge, Brandermill, Swift Creek, Evergreen West, Edgewater, Midlothian, Roseland, and Midlothian North in Chesterfield County; the precincts of Fife, Three Square, Sandy Hook, and Goochland Court House 2, in Goochland County; and the precincts of Columbia and Fork Union in Fluvanna County. He 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 ...

Life, education, career

Ware was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He received a B.A. degree in history and literature from Wheaton College in 1974. He also received an M.A. in American History from Harvard University. Additionally, he has pursued graduate studies in the same subjects Asbury Seminary, Northeastern University, Longwood University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Ware moved to Powhatan, Virginia as editor of the weekly newspaper the Powhatan Gazette, where he worked between 1981-1984. Starting in 1984, Ware taught history and government at

Powhatan High School Powhatan High School is a public high school in Powhatan County, Virginia. It serves 1412 students and is the only high school in they Powhatan County Public Schools school system. History Powhatan High School was held in a number of different ...

for 15 years. He later taught at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Academy. In 2012 he became academic dean of Benedictine College Preparatory School until his retirement in 2014. Ware is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

Positions and appointments

Ware has served on the House committees on: *Agriculture (1998–2001) *Chesapeake and Natural Resources (2002–) *Claims (1998–1999) *Commerce and Labor (2002–) *Conservation and Natural Resources (1998–2001) *Corporations *Insurance and Banking (1998–2001) *Finance (2001–) *Militia and Police (2000–2001) *Militia *Police and Public Safety (2002–2003) *Mining and Mineral Resources (1998–2000) *Rules (2010–) His current Committee Membership assignments include: *Finance *Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resource *Commerce and Labor *Rules His current Subcommittee Membership assignments include: *Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources - Subcommittee #2 *Finance - Subcommittee #2 *Finance - Subcommittee #3 *Commerce and Labor - Subcommittee #1 *Rules - Subcommittee #1 Ware also serves by appointment on several commissions, including: *Small Business *Water *Health Insurance Reform *Coal & Energy *Unemployment Compensation *Employment Retirement Security and Pension Reform He is a member of: *Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates *Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees *joint subcommittees on Local Government Fiscal Stress and Tax Preferences

Chairman of Finance Committee

Ware is the former Chairman of the House Finance Committee.

Opposition to Selective Ban on Sunday Hunting

Ware has historically opposed efforts to lift Virginia's selective ban on Sunday hunting. In 2014, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed legislation to permit hunting on Sunday allowing private property owners to choose for their own property, not within 200 yards of church, and no use of hunting deer with hounds. This victory was passed by large margin of 71 in favor and the minority at 27 against.

Electoral history

Ware served two terms on the

Powhatan County Powhatan County () is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,033. Its county seat is Powhatan. Powhatan County is included in the Greater Richmond Region. The James River forms the cou ...

Board of Supervisors, 1988–1996. He was board chairman for one year. (campaign website) On December 17, 1997, state Senator Joseph B. Benedetti resigned his seat to accept Governor-elect

Jim Gilmore James Stuart Gilmore III (born October 6, 1949) is an American politician, diplomat, statesman, and former attorney who was the 68th Governor of Virginia from 1998 to 2002 and Chairman of the Republican National Committee in 2001. A native Vir ...

's offer to become head of the state Department of Criminal Justice Services. 65th district Delegate John Watkins was chosen to succeed Benedetti in a special election on January 6, 1998. On January 13, the day before the

Virginia General Assembly The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the oldest continuous law-making body in the Western Hemisphere, the first elected legislative assembly in the New World, and was established on July 30, 161 ...

convened, Ware won a special election to replace Watkins. He was sworn in three days later.

Notes

External links

* (campaign finance) * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ware, Lee, Jr. 1952 births Living people Republican Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates Wheaton College (Illinois) alumni Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni People from Powhatan County, Virginia 21st-century American politicians