Ward Armstrong

Infobox State Representative

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imagesize = 150px
name=Ward Armstrong


width=
state_delegate=Virginia
district=10th
term_start=1992
term_end=
preceded= A. L. Philpott
succeeded= Incumbent
party=Democrat
date of birth= Birth date and age|1956|6|2|
place of birth=Roanoke, Virginia
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Pamela Akers
profession = Lawyer
religion=Baptist
residence=Collinsville, Virginia
alma_mater=Duke University, University of Richmond

Ward L. Armstrong (born June 2, 1956 in Roanoke, Virginia) is an American trial lawyer and politician. He has been a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 1992. He currently serves as the Minority leader.

Armstrong was raised in Bassett, Virginia, graduating from John D. Bassett High School in 1974. He then attended Duke University, where he earned a business degree in 1977. In 1980, Armstrong received a JD degree from the University of Richmond School of Law.During law school, he studied for a summer at Cambridge University in England. After law school, he worked as a law clerk to Justice W. Carrington Thompson of the Supreme Court of Virginia for one year. He has practiced law in Martinsville, Virginia since 1981.

He represents the 10th House district, and serves on the Courts of Justice, General Laws, and Counties, Cities & Towns committees. On 2007-02-24, Armstrong was elected Minority Leader of the Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates. As Minority Leader, he has organized the "51 Committee" to assist candidates in an effort to establish a Democratic majority in the House of Delegates.

As of early 2008, Armstrong said he would oppose closing an exemption for one-on-one gun sales between individuals from instant background checks (the so-called "gun show loophole"), even though he usually plays a key role in rallying Democratic support for Governor Timothy Kaine's agenda.

"My constituents pretty much expect me to oppose it," he said. "Carroll County is my district, and it¹s home to one of the largest gun shows on the East Coast."

Armstrong, with two young daughters of his own, said he is filled with sympathy for the Virginia Tech Massacre victims but that it won't sway his opposition to closing the loophole. "As legislators, we have to be dispassionate when it comes to the law." ["Despite Tech Shootings, Gun Show Rules Unlikely to be Altered", The Virginian-Pilot, 2008-01-06]

The Virginia Fifth Congressional District Democratic Committee awarded Armstrong the A.L. Philpott Award for Leadership. He is past president of the Martinsville-Henry County Bar Association; a member of the Virginia Museum of Transportation's Board of Directors; and a member of the Norfolk and Western Historical Society. He has served on the Board of Deacons at [http://www.pocahontasbassett.com/Deacons.htm Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church] .

Mr. Armstrong and his wife, Pamela Akers, have two daughters: Courtney Lynn and Whitney Akers. [cite web |url=http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/6ba6c7d6321dfabf85256c0d0051d316/4443629a1a780591852570d2005e9e68?OpenDocument&Click=85256823005F1997.f0a3d2c6f9f07af1852570bd00646e36/$Body/0.1A18
title=Ward L. Armstrong Bio / personal information (2008 session)|accessdate=2008-03-21 |publisher=Virginia General Assembly |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=]

References

External links

* [http://www.wardarmstrong.com Ward Armstrong] official campaign website
* [http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/6ba6c7d6321dfabf85256c0d0051d316/4443629a1a780591852570d2005e9e68?OpenDocument Virginia House of Delegates - Ward L. Armstrong] official VA website
* [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=5114 Project Vote Smart - Representative Ward Lynn Armstrong (VA)] profile
*"Follow the Money - Ward L. Armstrong
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=77216 2005] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=19305 2003] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=4669 2001] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=43 1999] campaign contributions
* [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/votersguide/2007/va/candidates/ward-l-armstrong/ Washington Post - Ward L. Armstrong] local election 2008 profile
*cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSoE9vjXqTQ
title= Del. Ward Armstrong on funding education
accessdate=2008-03-21|date=2008-02-29 |format=video |work= |publisher=Virginia Democrats
quote=House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong responds to Republican complaints over a study released this week that confirms the GOP budget would deny hundreds of millions of dollars to public education in coming years.