Jo Ann Davis

Jo Ann Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 1st district
In office January 3, 2001 – October 6, 2007
Preceded by	Herbert H. Bateman
Succeeded by	Rob Wittman
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 96th district
In office January 14, 1998 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Shirley Cooper
Succeeded by	Melanie Rapp
Personal details
Born	Jo Ann Sides[1] (1950-06-29)June 29, 1950 Rowan, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	October 6, 2007(2007-10-06) (aged 57) Gloucester, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Chuck Davis
Alma mater	Hampton Roads Business College
Occupation	real estate executive

Jo Ann Davis (née Sides; June 29, 1950 – October 6, 2007) was a Representative in the U.S. Congress. A member of the Republican Party from the United States Commonwealth of Virginia, she represented the state's 1st congressional district^[2] from 2001 until her death in 2007. She was the second woman—after Leslie L. Byrne—and first Republican woman elected to Congress from Virginia.

Political career

Davis attended Hampton Roads Business College and worked in real estate before she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1997. She was reelected in 1999.

In 2000, 1st District Representative Herbert H. Bateman, a 72-year-old incumbent, announced his retirement because of health concerns. He died on September 11, 2000. Davis ran for and won the Republican nomination to succeed him, despite Governor Jim Gilmore's having endorsed her primary opponent; she beat out four other opponents in the primary. In November 2000, she received 58% of the vote to win the seat, defeating Democrat Lawrence A. Davies, and Independents Sharon A. Wood and Josh Billings.^[3]

She was the second Virginia woman (after Democrat Leslie Byrne who served one term from the neighboring 11th district from 1993 to 1995), and the first Virginia Republican woman elected to the House in her own right. The First is one of the most Republican-leaning districts in Virginia (no Democrat has won the district since 1977, and only the neighboring 7th district is considered more Republican).^[4] Davis was reelected unopposed in 2002. She defeated Independent challenger William A. Lee in 2004. She won a fourth term in 2006 against token Democratic opposition, defeating Democrat Shawn M. O'Donnell and Independent Marvin F. Pixton III. Unlike Bateman, who was relatively moderate by Southern Republican standards, Davis was strongly conservative, especially on social issues.

Rep. Davis (left) (R-VA) joined Reps. Ben Cardin (at lectern) (D-MD) and Roscoe Bartlett (center) (R-MD) in calling for a study of homeland security needs of the National Capital region, including Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

During her tenure, Davis secured $169 million (after authorizing $229 million) for construction on the Navy's next-generation aircraft carrier, CVN-21, and $47 million for the removal of a portion of the James River Reserve Fleet, otherwise known as the Ghost Fleet. In 2002 she voted for the controversial resolution in favor of invading Iraq (formally the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002)^[5]

In March 2001, the House passed Davis's first piece of legislation – HR 1015,^[6] the SGLI Adjustment Act, which increased the amount of Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance paid to beneficiaries of members of the Armed Forces who died in the performance of their duty between November 1, 2000, and April 1, 2001. Davis also advocated tax cuts, and believed that the federal government must rein in growth and spending. She was the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy.

Davis was endorsed by several groups, including the Virginia Sheriff’s Association; the Peninsula Housing and Builders Association; the Virginia Society for Human Life; the National Rifle Association, and the Madison Project. She received a 93% rating from the National Federation of Independent Businesses for the 109th Congress,^[7] a grade of 95% from the Family Foundation of Virginia, and an "A" rating from the NRA Virginia Political Preference Chart. Other ratings included a 0% from the National Education Association, a 23% from the League of Conservation Voters, a 0% from the Children's Defense Fund, and a 4% from the American Civil Liberties Union .

Personal life

Davis was born in Rowan County, North Carolina, but lived in Virginia starting when she was nine years old. She graduated from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Virginia. Davis was one of four Pentecostals in the 109th Congress. The others were Todd Tiahrt of Kansas, Tim Johnson of Illinois, and Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado.^[8]

In 1974 she married Chuck Davis; the couple had two sons and were married for 33 years.

Davis was diagnosed in September 2005 with breast cancer and underwent a partial mastectomy on July 5, 2006, at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The pathology report indicated that there was no further evidence of cancer, and the Congresswoman stated that she would return to work as usual.^[9] She attended House sessions until shortly before her death.^[10]

Davis died on October 6, 2007, at her home in Gloucester, Virginia. She was reportedly recovering from a second bout with breast cancer, but her condition deteriorated rapidly over the week preceding her death. Davis is survived by her husband, Chuck Davis, two sons, and a granddaughter.^[11]

Electoral history

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (2000–)
• Women in the United States House of Representatives

References

External links

• United States Congress. "Jo Ann Davis (id: D000597)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Federal Election Commission – campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues – issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org – campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart – Representative Jo Ann S. Davis (VA) profile
• Washington Post – Congress Votes Database – voting record