Gregory Lavelle Explained

Gregory Lavelle
State Senate:Delaware
State:Delaware
District:4th
Term Start:January 8, 2013
Term End:January 8, 2019
Predecessor:Michael Katz
Successor:Laura Sturgeon
Office1:Minority Leader of the Delaware House of Representatives
Term Start1:January 12, 2011
Term End1:January 8, 2013
Predecessor1:Richard Cathcart
Successor1:Daniel Short
State House2:Delaware
State2:Delaware
District2:11th
Term Start2:January 9, 2001
Term End2:January 8, 2013
Predecessor2:Catherine Cloutier
Successor2:Deborah Hudson (Redistricting)
Birth Date:17 September 1963
Birth Place:Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Party:Republican
Alma Mater:University of Delaware (BS)
University of Pennsylvania (MS)
Website:Official website

Gregory F. Lavelle is an American politician who was a Republican member of the Delaware General Assembly from 2001 to 2019, serving in both the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives.[1] [2] In the 2018 midterm elections, he lost his seat in the general election to Democrat Laura Sturgeon.

Lavelle was elected to the Delaware House of Representatives in 2000 to replace Republican Catherine Cloutier, who had won a seat in the Delaware Senate. He served as the minority leader in the House from 2011 to 2013, during which time he was a leading opponent to marriage equality in Delaware.[3] [4]

In 2012, Lavelle resigned his House seat to challenge incumbent Democrat Michael Katz in the Senate's 4th district, which he won in a three-way general election. He served as the minority whip when he was ousted from his seat in 2018 in a major upset that was one of several losses for prominent Republicans in Delaware.[5] [6] His loss came after a contentious election where Lavelle and the Democratic Party of Delaware traded accusations of misconduct and campaign violations, as well as the focus on Lavelle's anti-gay voting record.[7]

Lavelle earned his BS in business administration from the University of Delaware and his MS in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

Political positions

Lavelle was a large proponent against LGBT rights during his time in the Delaware General Assembly. He voted against adding sexual orientation to Delaware anti-discrimination laws in 2009, and voted against adding gender identity to anti-discrimination laws in 2013. In 2011, Lavelle voted against legalizing same-sex civil unions and voted against legalizing same-sex marriage in 2013.[8]

Lavelle voted against repealing the death penalty in Delaware in 2013. The death penalty was ultimately abolished in Delaware in 2016.[9]

In 2011, Lavelle voted against legalizing medical marijuana in Delaware and against decriminalizing recreational marijuana in 2015. However, Lavelle voted in favor of legalizing medical marijuana to treat anxiety in 2015 and for reducing punishments for drug possession in 2011.[10]

Electoral history

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senator Gregory F. Lavelle (R) . . . January 5, 2019.
  2. Web site: Gregory Lavelle's Biography . . November 13, 2013.
  3. Web site: Delaware, Continuing a Trend, Becomes the 11th State to Allow Same-Sex Unions . Erik . Eckholm . . May 7, 2013.
  4. Web site: Delaware becomes 11th state to adopt marriage equality . Coastal Point . May 23, 2013.
  5. Web site: State House and Senate Minority Whips ousted by Democratic challengers. November 7, 2018. Sophia. Schmidt. Delaware Public Media.
  6. Web site: Political newcomer ousts state Senate's No. 2 Republican. November 6, 2018. Scott. Goss. Esteban. Parra. The News Journal.
  7. Web site: Democratic Party ups the ante in feud with Sen. Greg Lavelle . Scott . Goss . The News Journal . October 25, 2018.
  8. Web site: Gregory Lavelle's Voting Records on Issue: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
  9. Web site: Gregory Lavelle's Voting Records on Issue: Death Penalty.
  10. Web site: Gregory Lavelle's Voting Records on Issue: Drugs.
  11. Web site: State of Delaware Primary Election Official Results . September 9, 2000 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . November 13, 2013.
  12. Web site: State of Delaware General Election Official Results . November 7, 2000 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . November 13, 2013 . November 12, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131112192402/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect00/2000genofficial.shtml . dead .
  13. Web site: State of Delaware General Election Official Results . November 5, 2002 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . November 13, 2013 . November 12, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131112192209/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect02/elect02_general/elect02_office.shtml . dead .
  14. Web site: State of Delaware General Election Official Results . November 2, 2004 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . November 13, 2013 . November 28, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181128160148/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect04/elect04_general/elect04_general_office.shtml . dead .
  15. Web site: State of Delaware General Election Official Results . November 7, 2006 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . November 13, 2013 . May 28, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190528184435/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect06/elect06_general/html/elect06_general_office.shtml . dead .
  16. Web site: State of Delaware General Election Official Results . November 4, 2008 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . November 13, 2013 . May 28, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190528144158/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect08/elect08_general_election/html/elect08_gen_office.shtml . dead .
  17. Web site: State of Delaware General Election Official Results . November 2, 2010 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . November 13, 2013 . March 3, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175242/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect10/elect10_General/html/election.shtml . dead .
  18. Web site: State of Delaware General Election Official Results . November 6, 2012 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . November 13, 2013 . November 3, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131103114518/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect12/elect12_general/html/election.shtml . dead .
  19. Web site: State of Delaware General Election Official Results . November 7, 2014 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . January 5, 2019 . January 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230131212001/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect14/elect14_General/html/election.shtml . dead .
  20. Web site: State of Delaware General Election Official Results . November 6, 2018 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . January 5, 2019 . December 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181222125356/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect18/elect18_general/html/election.shtml . dead .