C. Richard Cranwell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of theDemocratic Party of Virginia | |
| In office June 18, 2005 – December 4, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Kerry J. Donley |
| Succeeded by | Brian Moran |
| Minority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates | |
| In office January 12, 2000 – January 9, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Vance Wilkins |
| Succeeded by | Frank Hall |
| Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates | |
| In office November 19, 1991 – January 12, 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Moss |
| Succeeded by | Morgan Griffith |
| Member of theVirginia House of Delegates from the14th district | |
| In office January 12, 1983 – January 9, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Franklin Slayton |
| Succeeded by | Danny Marshall |
| Member of theVirginia House of Delegates from the7th district | |
| In office January 13, 1982 – January 12, 1983 Serving with G. Steven Agee | |
| Preceded by | Vic Thomas |
| Succeeded by | G. C. Jennings |
| Member of theVirginia House of Delegates from the8th district | |
| In office January 12, 1972 – January 13, 1982 | |
| Preceded by | None (district created) |
| Succeeded by | Bill Wilson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Richard Cranwell (1942-07-26)July 26, 1942 (age 82) Ceredo-Kenova, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Roanoke County, Virginia |
| Alma mater | Virginia Tech(B.S.) University of Richmond(J.D.) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Charles Richard "Dick" Cranwell (born July 26, 1942) is an Americanlawyer andDemocratic Partypolitician. He was a member of theVirginia House of Delegates 1972–2001, and was its Democratic floor leader 1991–2001. From 2005 to 2010, he was chairman of theDemocratic Party of Virginia.[1][2]
Cranwell attendedRichlands High School inTazewell County, Virginia. As the varsity quarterback, he led the state in touchdown passes his senior year. He would go on to play football in college, transitioning tokicker.[3] He received aB.S. degree fromVirginia Polytechnic Institute in 1965, and hisJ.D. from theUniversity of Richmond School of Law in 1968. He was then admitted to theVirginia State Bar and took up practice inRoanoke County, Virginia.[1]
He is an active member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar, theAmerican Bar Association, theAssociation of Trial Lawyers of America, the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Roanoke County-Salem Bar Association.
Cranwell currently resides inVinton, Virginia and is a member of Vinton's Chamber of Commerce and itsLions Club. He has been married twice and had six children.
Cranwell was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1972, sharing the multi-member 8th district (Craig and Roanoke Counties and the city ofSalem) withRepublicanRaymond Robrecht. In 1982, after redistricting, he shared the same district, now numbered the 7th, with another Republican,G. Steven Agee. A second redistricting converted the House entirely to single-member districts in 1983. He won election in the new 14th district, made up of pieces of Craig, Roanoke andBedford Counties. He stayed in the 14th until his retirement from the House in 2001.[1][4][5][6]
Cranwell served as chair of the Militia and Police committee 1978–1987, then took over the chairmanship of the Finance committee. In September 1991,SpeakerA. L. Philpott, a terminal cancer patient, retired. Cranwell lost toTom Moss ofNorfolk for the Democratic Caucus nomination to succeed Philpott.[7] Moss then became Speaker, and Cranwell becameMajority leader.[1][8][9]
Republicans gained parity with Democrats in the House after the 1997 elections, part of a Republican sweep driven by gubernatorial candidateJim Gilmore's campaign promise to eliminate thepersonal property tax onautomobiles.[10] While the Democrats retained nominal majority caucus status and Moss remained Speaker, committee chairs were shared between the two parties, and RepublicanHarry Parrish became Finance co-chair with Cranwell. The committee sharing relationship continued for two years after Republicans took majority control in 2000. Moss conceded theMinority leader position to Cranwell.[1][11][12]
The Republicans had complete control of the redistricting process in 2001, and dismantled Cranwell's district. Portions of his district were split among three Republican-held districts. Cranwell retired to focus on his law practice.
Cranwell was elected as state Democratic party chair on June 18, 2005.[2]