August 18, 2005

Virginia Senate Leader Receives Top Legislative Honor

Chichester honored for bipartisan spirit and broad perspective

SEATTLE - President Pro Tempore of the Virginia Senate John Chichester received the nation's top state legislative honor today, the 2005 Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award.

Each year, the National Conference of State Legislatures and the State Legislative Leadership Foundation honor a leader who has shown a commitment to protecting and strengthening the institution of the state legislature. The winner is selected by a committee representing these organizations as well as journalists, former legislators and scholars.

"Senator Chichester embodies the qualities of a truly great leader," said NCSL Executive Director William Pound. "His integrity, his vision, and his ability to unify, even in arduous times, make him an icon of effective diplomacy."

Chichester's nominators point to his courage in championing a restructuring of the tax code to reform Virginia's finances in 2004. Chichester, a Republican, and Virginia Governor Mark Warner, a Democrat, were both among Governing Magazine's Public Officials of the Year in 2004 for the alliance they formed that helped generate enough support for Virginia's Legislature and voters to approve a $1.2 billion general obligation bond and reform the state's tax system.

The senator has been president pro-tem of his chamber since 2000. He has been a member of the Virginia Senate since 1978. He is chair of the Senate finance committee.

"This is a supreme honor," Chichester said. "I am both appreciative and humbled to receive this award, and it is to be shared equally with the Governor of Virginia, the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate. We all worked together to change our state's tax code and, in doing so, retained Virginia's AAA bond rating."

Chichester received a plaque and a $10,000 check made payable to the charity of his choice, the  Central Rappahannock Regional Library.

The Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award was first awarded in 1996 to former Massachusetts Senate President William Bulger for his career in public service.  Since then, the nation's top state legislative organizations have used the award to honor legislative leaders who embody similar qualities of leadership and commitment.

In 2004, the award was shared by South Carolina Speaker David Wilkins and Connecticut House Minority Leader Robert M. Ward. 

NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealth's and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.