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Resolution Saluting the Career of Senator Mary Margaret Whipple - March 2, 2011

Resolution Saluting the Career of Senator Mary Margaret Whipple - March 2, 2011

WHEREAS, Mary Margaret Whipple was born in Watseka, Illinois and earned a bachelor of Arts Degree from American University and a Masters of Arts in American Studies from George Washington University;

WHEREAS, Senator Whipple was appointed to the Arlington County School Board in 1976 and served as Chair in 1978-79;

WHEREAS, Senator Whipple was elected to the Arlington County Board in 1982, was reelected three times, and served as its Chair in 1986 and 1994;

WHEREAS, Senator Whipple, while on the County Board, served as the Arlington representative to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ("Metro") Board in 1985 and from 1988-1995, serving as chair in 1990;

WHEREAS, since 1996, Senator Whipple has represented the 31^st District in the Virginia Senate where she currently chairs the Rules Committee and serves on the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee; Education and Health Committee, Finance Committee; and Privileges and Elections Committee;

WHEREAS, Senator Whipple became the first woman to serve as Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, and has been a major force in gaining and retaining Democratic control of the Virginia Senate;

WHEREAS, Senator Whipple also serves as a member of the Eighth District Democratic Committee and the Virginia State Democratic Committee;

WHEREAS, Senator Whipple has been a mentor to many aspiring public servants and has worked to increase the number of women elected and appointed officials in Virginia;

WHEREAS, Senator Whipple has been a stalwart champion of a woman’s right to choose, and an effective advocate for excellent public education and supportive services for children and families;

WHEREAS, Senator Whipple has been an early advocate of green energy and contributed to the adoption of a renewable energy standard for electric utilities;

WHEREAS, Senator
Whipple, as a longtime advocate for
environmental protection, has worked to
strengthen Virginia's commitment
to protecting Chesapeake Bay, patroned the
Virginia Nontidal Wetlands Protection Act, and
established the Natural Resources
Commitment Fund. She also founded the Virginia
Commission on Energy and the Environment, and
she currently serves on the Citizen Advisory
Committee of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency; and

WHEREAS, Senator Whipple has worked to make Virginia’s tax system more progressive by sponsoring bills to share state income tax revenues with localities and to increase the cigarette tax to 60 cents per pack, and has persisted in trying to improve the funding of essential services;

WHEREAS, on February 25, 2011, Senator Whipple announced that she would not be seeking re-election to the State Senate this year;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Arlington County Democratic Committee on March 2, 2011, that:

1. ACDC congratulates and thanks Senator Mary Margaret Whipple for her outstanding leadership and service to ACDC, the Arlington community, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and
2. ACDC sends its best wishes to Senator Whipple as she enjoys her retirement.