Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears Presides Over Senate for First Time on Martin Luther King Day

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears took up the gavel to preside over the Senate for the first time on Monday, Martin Luther King Day. Sears is the first Black woman to hold statewide office in Virginia. Senators spent the Monday session with Martin Luther King Day speeches and with ceremonial introductions, including of Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Senator Mark Obenshain (R-Rockingham) introduced Sears: “It is wonderful to have Winsome Earle-Sears assume the gavel as the lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. For those of you who do not know Madam President, she is a Marine Corps veteran. She is from a family that came to America because of the great hope that America had to offer, much as our great new attorney general did. Winsome Earle-Sears is a business leader. She is as faith leader. She is a political leader in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is a former member of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and we are delighted that faith, perseverance, and hard work has brought her down the hall into the higher body as the presiding officer of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) is chair of the Virginia Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Commission. McClellan rose at the end of the session to give a speech, and following protocol, Sears gave McClellan the floor….(Excerpts from the Virginia Star)