Ware to resign from House of Delegates, citing mother’s poor health
Onzlee Ware’s departure will trigger a special election in the 11th House District, which covers most of Roanoke.
Onzlee Ware
by
Michael Sluss | 981-3356
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke, said today that he will resign from the House of Delegates and won’t serve the sixth term he was elected to last week.
Ware said he is resigning to spend more time with his ailing mother, who has been in a nursing home since suffering a stroke three months ago. Ware’s mother had been living with him for nearly three years before her health deteriorated over the summer, he said.
Ware said it would be a “great burden” to fulfill his responsibilities as a legislator while also maintaining his Roanoke law practice and looking after his mother’s care. He did not rule out a return to elective office or other public service
“It’s been a tough, tough choice, but I know it’s the right choice to make at this time,” Ware said this morning in a telephone interview from Richmond.
Ware said he informed Gov. Bob McDonnell of his decision this morning.
Ware’s resignation will trigger a special election in the 11th House District, which covers most of Roanoke. The General Assembly’s 2011 reapportionment plan put the entire district within the city limits.
It’s unclear how soon the special election will occur. At least 45 days must elapse between the date on which the governor issues the call for a special election and the election itself. Based on recent history, the special election could occur on Tuesday, Jan. 7, the day before the 2014 General Assembly session begins.
Ware said he hopes Democrats will hold a firehouse primary to nominate a candidate for his seat. He said he has talked with four potential candidates about the seat in recent weeks as rumors swirled about his possible resignation.
Ware, 59, was first elected to the House in 2003, becoming the first black delegate to represent a district west of Lynchburg. The Democrats were in the minority for his entire tenure, but Ware managed to get appointed to the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee in 2006.
Earlier this year, Ware was among a handful of Democrats who delivered key floor votes to keep McDonnell’s transportation funding bill alive in the House. He later was named to a conference committee responsible for reconciling differences between the House and Senate transportation bills.
Ware’s role in the transportation debate fed speculation that he was angling for a judicial appointment that would require approval from his legislative colleagues. He could not be considered for appointment while serving in the legislature.
Ware insisted today that his decision to resign is based entirely on his mother’s health, but he did not rule out the possibility that he could pursue a judicial vacancy in the future.
Ware moved to Roanoke in the 1980s to work for the Boy Scouts of America before starting a law practice in the city. He was well-regarded in Democratic circles as a grassroots field organizer and served a stint as first vice chairman of the state Democratic Party.
When former Del. Clifton “Chip” Woodrum of Roanoke announced his retirement from the House in 2003, Ware jumped into the race to succeed the veteran lawmaker. He won the Democratic primary and then an uncontested general election.
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