Jeannemarie Devolites Davis

Infobox_State_Senator
name= Jeannemarie Devolites Davis
honorific-prefix =Hon.


width=
state_senate=Virginia
state=Virginia
district=34th
term_start=2004
term_end=2008
preceded=Leslie Byrne
succeeded=Chap Petersen
date of birth= Birth date |1956|02|28|
place of birth=Swindon, England
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Tom Davis
profession=
religion=Roman Catholic
party=Republican
nationality = American
alma_mater =University of Virginia
children =Nichole, Ashley, Cassandra, Alexandra
occupation=Consultant
state_delegate3 =Virginia
district3 =35th
preceded3 =George E. Lovelace
term_start3 =2000
term_end3 =2004
succeeded3 =Steve Shannon
footnotes ="Jeannemarie Aragona Devolites." Marquis Who's Who TM. Marquis Who's Who, 2008.Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC.Document Number: K2014969977;"Jeannemarie Devolites Davis." Carroll's State Directory. Carroll Publishing, 2007.Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC.Document Number: K2416012688

Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (born February 28, 1956 in Swindon, England)is a former State Senator in the Commonwealth of Virginia (R-34) who represented (Fairfax City and a portion of Fairfax County including Vienna, Oakton, and part of Burke.) [cite web
url = http://www.has.vcu.edu/mac/cns/2004/02-22/devolites-profile.doc
title = Jeannemarie Devolites: from Scout leader to senator
accessdate = 2007-01-21
last = Kite
first = Sarah E.
date = 2004-02-22
format = MS-Word
work =
publisher = Capital News Service
quote = ]

Personal

She was graduated from Yorktown HS, in Arlington, VA (1974) [cite web
url = http://www.yorktownalums.org/communications/newsletter_archives/Newsletter%201.4%20-%20Winter%202001.doc
title = Winter 2001
accessdate = 2007-01-22
date = Winter 2001
format = MS-Word
work = The Yorktown Alumnus
publisher = Alumni & Friends of Yorktown High School, Inc
pages = 10] and the University of Virginia (1978) where she majored in Mathematics. She and Rep. Thomas M. Davis (R-VA-11) were married in 2004. It was the second marriage for them both. [cite web
url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/11/AR2006031101438.html
title = A War of Words, and Politics: Bill Fuels Friction for 2 Feuding N.Va. Lawmakers
accessdate = 2007-01-22
author =
last = Rein
first = Lisa
date = 2006-03-12
work = Washington Post
pages = C05
quote = married Devolites Davis in 2004] She has four children from her previous marriage to John Devolites and three step-children. [cite web
url = http://www.has.vcu.edu/mac/cns/2004/02-22/devolites-profile.doc
title = Jeannemarie Devolites: from Scout leader to senator
accessdate = 2007-01-21
last = Kite
first = Sarah E.
date = 2004-02-22
format = MS-Word
work =
publisher = Capital News Service
quote = ]

Donors

A large percentage of her financial support is contributed from her husband, Tom Davis, and the Republican organizations he directs. Before Virginia's 2007 election cycle, his PACS had donated more than [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/27/AR2006072701846_pf.html $172,000] to her campaign. In addition, she has received contributions from National Republican organizations directed by Mr. Davis including [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:6_RZ_0TPdg8J:www.abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/TheNote_Dec4.html+Tom%20Davis $300,000] to the Fairfax and Prince William's counties Republican Party committees, who in turn donated money and office space to Mrs. Davis; [http://www.vpap.org/cands/cand_donors_level2.cfm?ToKey=COM00282&CycleID=All&CycleType=Regular&FmKey=ORP000212768 $55,616] from the National Republican Congressional Committee when her husband was Chair, [http://www.vpap.org/donors/results_level2.cfm?Key=ORP000225290&Year=All&CandFilter=A&SortBy=Amount $5,000] from the Republican Main Stream Partnership, and [http://www.vpap.org/cands/cand_donors_level2.cfm?ToKey=COM00282&CycleID=All&CycleType=Regular&FmKey=ORP000206537 $5,000] from Tom Delay's ARMPAC.

According to the Washington Post "In the past five years, technology and telecommunications companies have been the largest contributors to Davis's and his wife's separate campaigns and political action committees. Those companies and their employees have donated more than $1.1 million of the $6.4 million given to the couple's campaigns, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics and the Virginia Public Access Project." [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/27/AR2006072701846_pf.html Washington Post.]

Affiliations

Former Senator Davis works as a technology consultant for ICG government [cite web
url = http://www.icggov.com/abouticg.htm
title = ICG Government
accessdate = 2007-01-21
title = About ICG
quote = .] , a position that has raised potential conflicts of interest, described in more detail below. Previously, she worked as a statistical consultant to the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. [cite web
url = http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?archive=true&article=40583&paper=79&cat=156
title = Jeannemarie Devolites, State Senate, District 34
accessdate = 2007-01-22
date = 2003-10-17
work = Vienna Oakton Connection
publisher = Connection Newspapers]

She participates in the following organizations: [cite web
url = http://www.icggov.com/devolites_bio.pdf
title = Jeannemarie Devolites Davis
accessdate = 2007-01-21
format = PDF
quote = ] She is on the Board of Directors of Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts, Homeaid, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA); Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Virginia International University; Member and Past President, Tysons Corner Rotary. She is a member of Tysons Vienna Regional Chamber of Commerce, Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, Oakton Women's Club, New Providence Republican Women's Club, American Legislative Exchange Council and National Conference of State Legislatures, Board member of Lattice Incorporated.

tate House of Delegates

After losing two races for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to Gerry Connolly, Devolites ran for the Virginia House of Delegates. In 1997, with Tom Davis as her mentor and [http://www.vpap.org/cands/results_cmtes.cfm?CandKey=CH035DEVOJ&CandName=Jeannemarie%20Devolites%20Davis chief donor] she won her race for member of the House of Delegates. She was elected to become the House Majority Whip, the first woman to serve in this position, before being elected to the State Senate.

tate Senate

She served one term in the State Senate, losing her run for reelection in 2007. Her district was the most Democratic district held by a Republican in Virginia. Her Democratic successor is Democrat and former Delegate Chap Petersen, whose district is enclaved in the 37th Senatorial District. Her [http://www.vpap.org/cands/results_cmtes.cfm?CandKey=CH035DEVOJ&CandName=Jeannemarie%20Devolites%20Davis top donor] continues to be her husband's Political Action Committee (PAC), the [http://www.vpap.org/donors/results_level2.cfm?Key=ORP000230221&Year=All&CandFilter=A&SortBy=Amount Federal Victory Fund] , donating almost $25,000. Tom Davis's other PAC, the [http://www.vpap.org/cands/cand_donorlist.cfm?CycleID=All&ToKey=COM00282 Va Victory Fund] , had also donated over $92,000 in her House races. Mrs. Davis also received another [http://www.vpap.org/cands/cand_donors_level2.cfm?ToKey=COM00282&CycleID=All&CycleType=Regular&FmKey=ORP000212768 $55,616] from the National Republican Congressional Committee when her husband was the Committee Chair. This RNCC donation is the [http://www.vpap.org/donors/results_level2.cfm?Key=ORP000212768&Year=All&CandFilter=A&SortBy=Amount most donated] to any VA candidate not running statewide.

Voting record

On evaluations from [http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CS040894 Project Vote Smart] , on a scale of 100 from 2004-2006, examples of the latest rankings for Davis include scores of 67-100 percent from the Virginia Education Association, 50-71 percent from the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, and 78-84 percent from the Chamber of Commerce. She has scores of near zero from the Virginia National Organization for Women and all reporting reproductive rights groups, 80% from the Chamber of Commerce, and a 94% from the conservative [http://www.familyfoundation.org/ Family Foundation of Virginia.]

Endorsements

In her 2007 election campaign, she listed the following endorsements: [cite web
url = http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?archive=true&article=40583&paper=79&cat=156
title = Jeannemarie Devolites, State Senate, District 34
accessdate = 2007-01-22
date = 2003-10-17
work = Vienna Oakton Connection
publisher = Connection Newspapers]
* Washington Post
* Fairfax Education Association
* Virginia Education Association
* Fairfax Local Firefighters
* Virginia Professional Firefighters
* Virginia chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
* Northern Virginia Technology Council
* Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
* National Federation of Independent Business
* Virginia Association of Realtors
* Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs
* Virginia Troopers Alliance

Campaign finance references

[http://www.vpap.org/cands/cand_donorlist.cfm?CycleID=All&ToKey=COM00793 VP
]

[http://www.vpap.org/cands/cand_donorlist.cfm?ToKey=COM00732&CycleID=2003&CycleType=Regular VP
]

[http://www.vpap.org/cands/results_cmtes.cfm?CandKey=CX999DAVIT&CandName=Tom%20Davis VP
]

Controversies

ICG Government

She was one of the first hires (as a part-time consultant) for ICG, a firm that assists businesses in obtaining and defending performance under government contracts. At the time of her hire, Congressman Davis was her mentor and campaign manager. ICG Founder and President [http://www.icggov.com/upson_bio.pdf Don Upson] is a longtime friend of Davis. After Devolites was hired by ICG, Davis, then divorced, married Devolites.

The financial benefits between Rep. Davis and his wife, from the ICG job as well as other campaign donations to Mrs. Davis, were highlighted in a June 2007 ethics report [http://www.citizensforethics.org/familyaffair "Family Affair"] by the [http://www.citizensforethics.org/ Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics] in Washington. The report identified ethical questions on financial ties that benefit family members of 64 of the 435 voting members of Congress.

As of 12/24/2008, Davis continues to work for ICG. She reported to the Washington Post that she was paid $78,000 in 2005 for working "10 to 20 hours a week," primarily at home on her cellphone, she said. She made $18,000 a year as a Virginia legislator. Her ICG bio, which continues to describe her as a "Current Virginia State Senator for largest IT district", [http://www.icggov.com/devolites_bio.pdf bio] , also is the only one on the ICG website to name a spouse.

Disclosures

During the week of October 22, 2007, the Davis campaign sent out 60,000 campaign flyers accusing Petersen of not disclosing that his former law firm was working on issues that Petersen voted on while in the House of Delegates. The flyer did not mention that Petersen had not been involved in the legal issues for the client. The flyer included a copy of a section of Petersen's Statement of Economic Interest, which he filed while serving in the House. It includes Petersen's home address, telephone number, and the names of his wife and four children. This information was not redacted by the Davis campaign.

Petersen held a press conference on October 26 in front of Davis' headquarters in Fairfax. He said that "words cannot describe the anger I feel" about the flyer, and called it "shocking" that Davis would use his personal information in such a manner. Petersen said that advertising his personal information was not in and of itself a problem, but using his personal phone number and children's identification was not appropriate or safe in an attack ad. Such tactics, Petersen said, endangered his family. Mrs. Petersen complained of receiving two telephone calls related to the attack ad, and police presence appeared at the home, before the family vacated the house. In response, Davis said in her own press conference that because the information was public and included to supporters, it was appropriate for an attack ad.cite web | date=2007-10-26 | accessdate=2007-12-31 | publisher=MyFox Washington DC | title= Accusations of Dirty Tactics in VA Senate Race |last= Cohan |first= Stacey | url = http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4753320&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1] cite news | date=2007-10-27 | accessdate=2007-12-31 | last= Gardner | first=Amy | publisher = Washington Post | page=B05 | title = Candidate Cries Foul Over Mailing
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/26/AR2007102602063.html] [cite web | url=http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1007/467330.html | accessdate=2007-12-31 | date=2007-10-26 | title = Virginia State Senate Race Heats Up| publisher =ABC 7 News] cite web | url=http://www.nbc4.com/news/14434768/detail.html | accessdate=2007-12-31 | date=2007-10-26 | title=Va. State Senate Race Turns Tense | series = NBC4.COM]

Because of the controversy, the Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs withdrew its initial endorsement of Davis.

Devolites Davis also claimed that Petersen's campaign uploaded a video to YouTube which brought up her daughter's armed robbery conviction of several years ago. However, according to Washington CBS affiliate WUSA, there is no evidence anyone from the Petersen camp uploaded the video.cite web | accessdate=2007-12-31 | url = http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=64482 | first=Gary
last=Reals | date = 2007-10-26 | title = Personal Accusations Fly In Contentious Va. Senate Race | publisher= WUSA]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.devolites.org State Senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis] official website
* [http://sov.state.va.us/SenatorDB.nsf/23b0c13df27a5ef585256fc7004febb2/38a5debdd547164b85256df60073bb7d?OpenDocument Senate of Virginia - Senator Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis] official government site
* You Tube videos
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSwsX5HV57U Devolites Campaign Ad - 1997]
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hobf91i7IHY CNN: Bloomberg Endorses VA Sen Devolites-Davis over gun control - 2007]
*General Assembly Legislation
** [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+mbr+S66C 2007 chief patron] [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+mbr+S66S co-patron]
** [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+mbr+S66C 2006 chief patron] [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+mbr+S66S co-patron]
** [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+mbr+S66C 2005 chief patron] [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+mbr+S66S co-patron]
** [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+mbr+S66C 2004 chief patron] [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+mbr+S66S co-patron)]
** [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?031+mbr+H117C 2003 chief patron] [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?031+mbr+H117C co-patron]
** [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?021+mbr+H117C 2002 chief patron] [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?021+mbr+H117C co-patron]
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=24931 Project Vote Smart - Senator Jeannemarie A. Devolites Davis (VA)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Jeannemarie Devolites Davis
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200545&c=414022 2005] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200345&c=59300 2003] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200145&c=20652 2001] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=199945&c=548 1999] campaign contributions
* [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/votersguide/2007/va/races/va-senate-district-34/ Washington Post - 2007 Senate District 34 Race]