Creigh Deeds Explained

Creigh Deeds
Office:Member of the Virginia Senate
Constituency:25th District (2001–2024)
11th District (2024–Present)
Term Start:December 27, 2001
Predecessor:Emily Couric
State Delegate1:Virginia
District1:18th
Term Start1:January 8, 1992
Term End1:December 27, 2001
Predecessor1:Bo Trumbo
Successor1:Clay Athey
Birth Name:Robert Creigh Deeds
Birth Date:4 January 1958
Birth Place:Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:
    Children:4
    Education:Concord University (BA)
    Wake Forest University (JD)

    Robert Creigh Deeds (; born January 4, 1958) is an American lawyer and politician serving as a member of the Senate of Virginia representing the 25th district since 2001. Previously, he was the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Virginia in 2005 and Governor of Virginia in 2009. He was defeated in both of those races by Republican Bob McDonnell. Deeds lost by just 323 votes in 2005, but was defeated by a wide margin of over 17 percentage points in 2009. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1992 to 2001.[1] [2]

    Personal life

    Deeds was born on January 4, 1958, in Richmond, Virginia.[3] The name "Creigh" is a family surname, originating from Confederate sympathizer, David Creigh, a distant relative.[4] His family moved early in his life to Bath County. After graduating from Bath County High School, Deeds enrolled in Concord College. He then entered the Wake Forest University School of Law, from which he received his Juris Doctor in 1984.

    Deeds married Pamela Miller in February 1981. They divorced in February 2010, with an article in The Washington Post describing the marriage as "a casualty of a nearly 20-year pursuit of a lifelong ambition that kept [Deeds] away from home".[5]

    Deeds married Siobhan Gilbride Lomax of Lexington, Virginia, in June 2012.[6]

    Stabbing

    On November 19, 2013, Deeds was stabbed multiple times at his home in Bath County, Virginia by his 24-year-old son, Gus, who then died by suicide.[7] Deeds was initially reported to be in critical condition at University of Virginia Medical Center.[8] [9] Although a judge had issued an involuntary commitment order for Gus, and despite an intensive search, no available hospital bed could be found to provide him mental health treatment in the days before the attempted murder and he was released home without the ordered treatment.[10] As a consequence, several changes were made in the screening and admission process for people undergoing an emergency psychiatric examination in Virginia.[11] These changes include 2014 Virginia Senate Bill 260, sponsored by Deeds.[12]

    Political career

    House of Delegates

    Deeds won election to the Virginia House of Delegates 1991 by defeating incumbent Emmett Hanger in a 57%–41% victory. This started a nine-year career in the Virginia House of Delegates.

    In the House of Delegates, Deeds introduced several legislative proposals, including introducing Megan's Law to the Virginia General Assembly, which was passed in 1998.[13] Other legislation promoted by Deeds include environmental protection and anti-drug laws.[14] In 1994 Deeds supported and was a major co-sponsor of George Allen's initiative to abolish parole for those convicted of a felony.

    State Senate

    Deeds won a special state senate election in 2001 to succeed Emily Couric, who had died of pancreatic cancer.[15] During Deeds' Senate tenure, legislation that Deeds proposed includes:[16]

    Deeds was also a proponent of a Senate resolution to close Virginia's gun show loophole, and made public appearances to generate support for the measure.[19]

    Attorney General campaign

    See main article: 2005 Virginia Attorney General election. In 2005, Deeds and John Edwards—a Virginia state senator from Roanoke—each announced that they planned to run for Attorney General of Virginia in the Democratic primary. Edwards later decided not to run, leaving Deeds as the sole candidate for the Democratic nomination for the office.[20]

    In the general election campaign, running against Republican nominee Bob McDonnell, Deeds ran on his record as a moderate Democrat who supported gun rights, strong punishment for criminals, and the death penalty. Deeds' stance on gun control included supporting a ban on semi-automatic firearms, but that did not prevent him from earning the endorsement of the NRA, which cited his patronage of a state constitutional amendment that guaranteed the right to hunt.[21] [22] McDonnell outspent Deeds by almost three million dollars (McDonnell spent $5,962,067 to Deeds' $3,103,585); $2,084,089 of McDonnell's campaign contributions were funneled through the Republican State Leadership Committee,[23] exploiting a loophole in state law that was closed by the General Assembly shortly after the election.[24] [25]

    The initial result of the vote was 49.96%–49.95%, with Deeds behind by fewer than 350 votes.[26] Due to the closeness of the race's outcome, Deeds asked for a recount. Judge Theodore Markow of Richmond set the recount for December 20, 2005, a date so close to the inauguration that invitations to the event were mailed without a name for the attorney general to be inaugurated. The recount reaffirmed the earlier outcome, and McDonnell became attorney general.[27]

    Gubernatorial campaign

    See main article: 2009 Creigh Deeds gubernatorial campaign and 2009 Virginia gubernatorial election. Deeds announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for governor on December 13, 2007.[28] At the end of a close three-way race against former DNC chair Terry McAuliffe and former State Delegate Brian Moran, Deeds won by a large margin, taking about 50 percent of the vote in the June 9, 2009, Democratic Primary.[29] He again faced McDonnell, the Republican nominee, in the November 2009 general election. McDonnell was selected at his party's nominating convention.[30] Deeds lost the gubernatorial race by a wide margin to McDonnell, 41.25% to 58.61%.[31]

    Electoral history

    See main article: Electoral history of Creigh Deeds. To date, both of the elections Creigh Deeds has lost were to his 2005 Attorney General opponent Bob McDonnell, to whom he also lost in the 2009 Gubernatorial race.

    Political positions

    Taxes

    In January 2009, Deeds proposed up to a $10,000 tax credit for businesses that made "job-creating investments"[32] and supported exemption of the sales tax on the purchase of solar or wind energy systems for homeowners.[33] He has stated that he will not make a no-tax-increase pledge and wrote in The Washington Post that he would support a new gas tax to fund transportation.[34] [35] [36] In 2008, Deeds voted for a bill in the State Senate which would raise the Virginia gas tax $0.06 per gallon over the next 6 years.[37]

    Consumer advocacy

    Deeds is in favor of tougher sanctions on lenders that deal subprime mortgages.[38]

    Death penalty

    Deeds supports removing the "trigger-man" clause, which restricts the death penalty to those who physically committed the action, in Virginia capital punishment law.[39] In 2005, Deeds said that he disagreed with the Supreme Court ruling in Roper v. Simmons, which made it unconstitutional to execute juveniles. He argued that it was the jury's duty to determine when and where the death penalty should come into play.[40] In 2021, Deeds voted to abolish the death penalty in Virginia.[41]

    Gay marriage

    In 2006, Deeds was part of the unanimous Democratic coalition that voted to oppose an amendment to the Virginia State Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage.[42] He voted against it because he believed the Amendment went too far in its definition of marriage.[43] In July 2009, Deeds stated he believed "Marriage is between a man and a woman" and declined to say gay marriage is a civil right.[44]

    Gun control

    Deeds was endorsed by the NRA during his 2005 Attorney General run over Republican Bob McDonnell.[45] Deeds supports a state ban on civilian ownership of assault weapons and signed a pledge to repeal the law restricting citizens from buying more than one handgun a month.[46] The law was repealed by his opponent, Bob McDonnell in February 2012 [47] [48] He voted against the Castle Doctrine (Senate Bill 876) multiple times and previously proposed a measure that would eliminate private sales at gun shows. The bill's proponents called it a measure to prevent another disaster like the Virginia Tech massacre even though the shooter purchased his firearms from licensed gun dealers and not at a gun show. This measure ultimately failed.[49] [50] In February 2011, Deeds was one of eight senators on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee who "passed by indefinitely" House Bill 1573, defeating the bill by an 8 to 4 margin.[51] In February 2020, Deeds broke party ranks to shelve House Bill 961 which would have prohibited the sale and transport of assault firearms, certain firearm magazines, silencers, and trigger activators. This effectively blocked the legislation championed by Gov. Northam.[52]

    Illegal immigration

    Deeds voted to make undocumented immigrants ineligible for in-state tuition and state and local benefits. He voted in favor of designating English as the official language of the United States.[53]

    2010 redistricting

    Deeds introduced SB926 to create a seven-member non-partisan committee to oversee the 2010–2011 redistricting plan. In 2009, the bill passed the State Senate, 39–0, but was killed by the House of Delegates' Committee on Privileges and Elections.[54] In 2010, the bill once again passed the Senate with unanimous vote of 40–0 before once again being killed in committee by the House of Delegates.[55] Deeds said that, if elected Governor of Virginia, he would use his veto power and amendment powers to try to force the House of Delegates into accepting a version of SB926.[56]

    Education

    Deeds' 2009 gubernatorial campaign issued a plan called "Better Schools. Better Jobs" to detail Deeds' plans regarding education.[57] The plan called for up to $15,000 in student loans for 4-year college students, and for creating partnerships with community colleges and traditional universities.

    Transportation

    Deeds was criticized by the McDonnell campaign for lacking a coherent transportation plan. During the second debate between the candidates, McDonnell held up a blank sheet of paper as a representation of the Deeds plan.[58] Deeds later wrote a column in The Washington Post laying out his plan, which included the possibility of a new gas tax or other tax.[36]

    External links

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    Notes and References

    1. News: Creigh Deeds Announces Bid for Governor. Tim Craig. The Washington Post. December 13, 2007.
    2. Web site: Commonwealth of Virginia, November 8, 2005 – General Election, Official Results. Virginia State Board of Elections. May 25, 2009. https://archive.today/20121214090301/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2005/nov2005/html. December 14, 2012. dead.
    3. Web site: Historical Bio for R. Creigh Deeds. Virginia House of Delegates.
    4. News: Helderman . Rosalind S. . Hmmm. So You Say That How? - The Washington Post . https://archive.today/20131119181306/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-07-04/news/36880816_1_bath-county-virginia-beach-warm-springs . dead . November 19, 2013 . Articles.washingtonpost.com . July 4, 2009 . November 19, 2013.
    5. News: After loss, Va's Deeds tries to regain his footing. Kunkle, Frederick. The Washington Post. April 12, 2010. April 12, 2010.
    6. Web site: Virginia State Sen. Creigh Deeds: His family and political highlights . Washington Post . 2013-11-19 . 2024-02-09.
    7. Web site: Sen. Deeds in serious condition. The Highland Recorder. November 19, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131122202054/http://www.therecorderonline.com/news/2013-11-14/Top_News/Sen_Deeds_in_serious_condition.html. November 22, 2013. dead.
    8. Web site: Deeds critically wounded; son dead from gunshot. Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 19, 2013.
    9. Web site: Creigh Deeds stabbing leaves state senator in critical condition. WJLA/Allbritton Communications. November 19, 2013. November 23, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131123231846/http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/11/creigh-deeds-stabbing-leaves-state-senator-in-critical-condition-97050.html. dead.
    10. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/20/us/politics/virginia-political-figure-is-stabbed-at-his-home.html Virginia Political Figure Stabbed as Son Takes Own Life, Police Say
    11. Web site: Developments in Mental Health Law . . May 2014 . University of Virginia . 23 September 2014 . November 21, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151121214604/http://www.ilppp.virginia.edu/PublicationsAndPolicy/DownloadPDF/67 . dead .
    12. Web site: SB 260 Emergency custody & temporary detention; web-based psychiatric bed registry, period of custody.
    13. Web site: HB 570 Megan's Law; community notification. May 25, 2009. May 14, 1998. Virginia General Assembly.
    14. Web site: Meet Senator Deeds. Deeds for Virginia. May 25, 2009. Using his relationships with law enforcement officers and his experience as a prosecutor, Deeds wrote the state law that has turned the tide against homegrown illegal methamphetamine drug labs. In addition to his work to clean up the Kim-Stan landfill Superfund site, Senator Deeds also wrote one of the most progressive laws to preserve open space and protect the environment.. June 7, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090607195320/http://www.deedsforvirginia.com/bio. dead.
    15. Web site: Emily Couric, Virginia State Senator Dies of Pancreatic Cancer. American Cancer Society. October 19, 2001. February 14, 2009. January 30, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090130082737/http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Emily_Couric_Virginia_State_Senator_Dies_of_Pancreatic_Cancer.asp. dead.
    16. Web site: Senate Creigh Deeds. Richmond Sunlight.
    17. Web site: SB891 Summary. Virginia General Assembly.
    18. Web site: SB982 Summary. Virginia General Assembly.
    19. Web site: Senator Deeds Builds the Bipartisan Coalition to Close the Gun Show Loophole. https://web.archive.org/web/20200423051136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3S7V-8xhTo&gl=US&hl=en . 2020-04-23 . dead. YouTube. . January 26, 2009.
    20. News: Roanoke senator drops statewide nomination bid. Michael. Sluss. March 4, 2005. June 13, 2009. The Roanoke Times. The Times-World Corporation. Roanoke state Sen. John Edwards has dropped plans to seek the Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general, saying he could not devote enough time to mount a competitive campaign. Edwards' decision leaves state Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County as the lone candidate for the Democratic nomination, which will be determined in a June 14 primary.. dead. https://archive.today/20120908051723/http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/xp-19578. September 8, 2012. mdy-all.
    21. News: Urbina. Ian. 2009-06-10. A Fierce Race Kicks Off in Virginia. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-05-20. 0362-4331.
    22. News: NRA Backs Democrat For Va. Attorney General. Chris. Jenkins. The Washington Post. Virginia Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, who is running for attorney general, received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association. September 30, 2005. April 30, 2010.
    23. Web site: Attorney General . Virginia Public Access Project . May 25, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120111153216/http://www.vpap.org/candidates/election_seat/3?year_and_type=2005regular . January 11, 2012 .
    24. News: Group says McDonnell backing wasn't tied to one donor. Christina. Nuckols. February 4, 2006. June 12, 2009. Landmark Communications. McDonnell has been working with lawmakers this year to draft legislation that will require the state leadership committee and similar groups to disclose their donors.. March 29, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120329052526/http://hamptonroads.com/node/57281. dead.
    25. News: Mr. McDonnell's Dodge. The Washington Post. October 28, 2005. April 30, 2010.
    26. Web site: 2005 Attorney General General Election Results — Virginia. Dave Leip's Election Atlas.
    27. News: Close race finally ends; McDonnell beats Deeds. Michael. Sluss. The Roanoke Times. The Times-World Corporation. December 22, 2005. June 13, 2009. McDonnell became the official winner Wednesday night when a three-judge panel in Richmond Circuit Court certified his 360-vote victory over Democrat Creigh Deeds.. September 11, 2012. https://archive.today/20120911081124/http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-45517. dead.
    28. News: Creigh Deeds Announces Bid For Governor. December 13, 2007. The Washington Post. April 30, 2010.
    29. https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2009/B19D959E-A4DD-4C27-BC08-30C8F2FF2F92/Unofficial/2_s.shtml 2009 June Democratic Primary Unofficial Results
    30. News: Clear Path to Governor's Race. Anita. Kumar. The Washington Post. November 8, 2008. January 6, 2009.
    31. https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2009/37C2EDEB-FACB-44C1-AF70-05FB616DCD62/UnOfficial/2_s.shtml|title=Virginia State Board of Elections, November 2009 General Election unofficial results}
    32. Web site: State tax breaks unlikely in slumping economy. HamptonRoads.com. January 18, 2009. June 10, 2009. June 20, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090620074647/http://hamptonroads.com/2009/01/state-tax-breaks-unlikely-slumping-economy. dead.
    33. Web site: McDonnell, Deeds pushing Tax credits. The Richmond Times Dispatch. January 14, 2009. June 10, 2009. June 20, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090620063339/http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/MCCDGATER15_20090114-174212/178258. dead.
    34. News: Deeds in a Bit of a Bind on Taxes, Transportation. The Washington Post. September 18, 2009.
    35. News: Candidate Closer to N. Va. Than It Seems. The Washington Post. February 1, 2009.
    36. News: My Transportation Plan. Creigh Deeds. September 23, 2009. The Washington Post.
    37. News: Moran and Deeds Debate Gas Tax Increase. The Washington Post. July 11, 2008.
    38. Web site: Protecting Virginia's Consumers. DeedsforVirginia. June 10, 2009. June 7, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090607194747/http://www.deedsforvirginia.com/node/7. dead.
    39. News: Maryland and Virginia go Separate ways on Death Penalty. The Washington Post. January 27, 2009.
    40. Web site: Deeds discusses drug prices, death penalty. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025185835/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-131100056.html. dead. October 25, 2012. March 31, 2005.
    41. Web site: LIS > Bill Tracking > > 2021 session.
    42. Web site: Democrats officially against gay marriage amendment. The Roanoke Times. June 28, 2006. June 10, 2009. February 1, 2013. https://archive.today/20130201091831/http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-71457. dead.
    43. Web site: Deeds Announces He Will be Voting NO on Ballot Question #1. Blogging the Amendment. October 23, 2006. April 20, 2009.
    44. Web site: Criegh Deeds on Gay Marriage. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/MDofIHR6eyo . 2021-12-14 . live. . September 13, 2009.
    45. Web site: NRA endorses Deeds in state race. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025185846/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-136975561.html. dead. October 25, 2012. September 30, 2005.
    46. Web site: Wilder Won't Endorse Deeds. https://web.archive.org/web/20090927102741/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/09/24/2079626.aspx. dead. September 27, 2009. Mark Murray. September 24, 2009. MSNBC.com. October 30, 2009.
    47. Web site: McDonnell signs repeal of Virginia's one-gun-a-month law . The Washington Times . February 28, 2012 . November 19, 2013.
    48. Web site: Dems and guns. June 9, 2009. June 11, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20111005023906/http://www.nfmpolitico.com/kpix/2009/06/09/dems-and-guns/#more-28571. October 5, 2011. dead.
    49. News: Senate Panel Defeats Bill on Gun Show Sales. The Washington Post. January 24, 2009.
    50. Norfolk Examiner, January 19, 2011
    51. National Rifle Association, February 15, 2011
    52. Web site: Virginia HB961.. 2020-02-19. LegiScan. 2020-02-19.
    53. News: Conservatism Could Hurt Deeds in Democratic Race. Kumar, Anita (Washington Post). May 17, 2009. June 10, 2009. The Washington Post.
    54. Web site: Bipartisan Redistricting Commission; created. (SB926). Richmond Sunlight. March 28, 2009.
    55. News: House panel kills bipartisan redistricting. Richmond Times Dispatch. Whitley, Tyler. March 3, 2010. April 13, 2010. https://archive.today/20100305002029/http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/DIST03_20100302-222805/327943. March 5, 2010. dead.
    56. Web site: Deeds fights for redistricting plan. Decision Virginia, NBC 12. February 17, 2009. March 28, 2009.
    57. Web site: Better Schools. Better Jobs. Deeds for Virginia. May 23, 2009. May 7, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090507195456/http://www.deedsforvirginia.com/betterschools. dead.
    58. Web site: Gubernatorial Debate Turns Contentious in Va.. October 5, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090922201223/http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/GOVS18_20090917-222403/293728. September 22, 2009. dead.

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