Jo Ann Davis

Jo Ann Davis
Jo Ann Davis
	Melanie Rapp
Personal details
Born	Jo Ann Sides; June 29, 1950; Rowan County, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	October 6, 2007 (aged 57); Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Chuck Davis
Alma mater	Hampton Roads Business College
Occupation	Real estate executive

Jo Ann Davis (née Sides; June 29, 1950 – October 6, 2007) was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007. A member of the Republican Party from Virginia, she represented the state's 1st congressional district.^[2] She was the second woman and first Republican woman elected to Congress from Virginia.

Early life and education

Jo Ann Sides was born in

Hampton Roads Business College.^{[citation needed}

]

Career

Davis worked in real estate before she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1997. She was re-elected in 1999.

In

Herbert H. Bateman, a 72-year-old incumbent, announced his retirement because of health concerns. He died on September 11, 2000. Davis ran for and won the Republican nomination to succeed him, despite Governor Jim Gilmore's having endorsed her primary opponent; she beat out four other opponents in the primary. In November 2000, she received 58% of the vote to win the seat, defeating Democrat Lawrence A. Davies, and Independents Sharon A. Wood and Josh Billings.^[3]

She was the second Virginia woman (after

2006

against token Democratic opposition, defeating Democrat Shawn M. O'Donnell and Independent Marvin F. Pixton III. Unlike Bateman, who was relatively moderate by Southern Republican standards, Davis was strongly conservative, especially on social issues.

District of Columbia

.

During her tenure, Davis secured $169 million (after authorizing $229 million) for construction on the

James River Reserve Fleet, otherwise known as the Ghost Fleet. In 2002 she voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.^[5]

In March 2001, the House passed Davis's first piece of legislation – HR 1015, the SGLI Adjustment Act, which increased the amount of

House Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy.^{[citation needed}

]

Davis was endorsed by several groups, including the Virginia Sheriff's Association; the Peninsula Housing and Builders Association; the Virginia Society for Human Life; the

NRA Political Victory Fund, and the Madison Project. She received a 93% rating from the National Federation of Independent Businesses for the 109th Congress,^[6] a grade of 95% from the Family Foundation of Virginia, and an "A" rating from the NRA Virginia Political Preference Chart. Other ratings included a 0% from the National Education Association, a 23% from the League of Conservation Voters, a 0% from the Children's Defense Fund, and a 4% from the American Civil Liberties Union

.

Personal life

Davis was one of four

109th Congress. The others were Todd Tiahrt of Kansas, Tim Johnson of Illinois, and Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado.^[7]

In 1974 she married Chuck Davis; the couple had two sons and were married for 33 years.

Davis was diagnosed in September 2005 with breast cancer and underwent a partial mastectomy on July 5, 2006, at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The pathology report indicated that there was no further evidence of cancer, and Davis stated that she would return to work as usual.^[8] She attended House sessions until shortly before her death.^[9]

Death

Davis died on October 6, 2007, at her home in

Gloucester, Virginia. She was reportedly recovering from a second bout with breast cancer, but her condition deteriorated rapidly over the week preceding her death. Davis was survived by her husband, Chuck Davis, two sons, and 2 grandchildren.^[10]

Electoral history

Virginia's 1st congressional district: Results 2000–2006^[11]
Year	Democrat	Votes	Pct	Republican	Votes	Pct	Independent	Votes	Pct	Independent	Votes	Pct
2000	Lawrence A. Davies	97,399	37%	Jo Ann Davis	151,344	58%	Sharon A. Wood	9,652	4%	Josh Billings	4,082	2%	*
2002	(no candidate)			Jo Ann Davis	113,168	96%	Write-ins	4,829	4%
2004	(no candidate)			Jo Ann Davis	225,071	79%	William A. Lee	57,434	20%	Write-ins	4,029	1%
2006	Shawn M. O'Donnell	81,083	35%	Jo Ann Davis	143,889	63%	Marvin F. Pixton III	3,236	1%				*

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2000, write-ins received 537 votes. In 2006, write-ins received 326 votes.

References

^ Post, The Salisbury. "The Salisbury Post - Rowan native, U.S. representative loses battle with cancer". archive.salisburypost.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
^ "Congressional District 1 map". Archived from the original on 3 September 2005. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
^ "OpenSecrets.org 2000 Race: Virginia District 1". Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
^ Wasserman, David. "Introducing the 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI)". The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
^ "107th Congress-2nd Session 455th Roll Call Vote of by members of the House of Representatives". Retrieved 6 May 2017.
^ "Vote ScoreCard". capwiz.com. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
^ "Religion of US Congress". Adherents.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved 2007-07-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "Va. Congresswoman Undergoes Breast-Cancer Surgery". WTOP. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
^ "U.S. House of Representatives Roll Call Votes". U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
^ Official Press Release Announcing Her Death Archived 2007-10-09 at the Wayback Machine From joanndavis.house.gov Retrieved October 6, 2007.
^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on July 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-10.

External links

United States Congress. "Jo Ann Davis (id: D000597)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Appearances on C-SPAN
Federal Election Commission – campaign finance reports and data
On the Issues – issue positions and quotes
OpenSecrets.org – campaign contributions
Project Vote Smart – Representative Jo Ann S. Davis (VA) profile
Washington Post – Congress Votes Database – voting record

Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by Shirley Cooper	Virginia Delegate for the 96th District 1998–2001	Succeeded by Melanie Rapp
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Herbert H. Bateman	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 1st congressional district 2001–2007	Succeeded by Rob Wittman

[1] Post, The Salisbury. "The Salisbury Post - Rowan native, U.S. representative loses battle with cancer". archive.salisburypost.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2017.

[2] "Congressional District 1 map". Archived from the original on 3 September 2005. Retrieved 6 May 2017.

[3] "OpenSecrets.org 2000 Race: Virginia District 1". Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2017.

[2022_Report-4] Wasserman, David. "Introducing the 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI)". The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. Retrieved 2022-07-13.

[5] "107th Congress-2nd Session 455th Roll Call Vote of by members of the House of Representatives". Retrieved 6 May 2017.

[6] "Vote ScoreCard". capwiz.com. Retrieved 6 May 2017.

[7] "Religion of US Congress". Adherents.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved 2007-07-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[8] "Va. Congresswoman Undergoes Breast-Cancer Surgery". WTOP. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2017.

[9] "U.S. House of Representatives Roll Call Votes". U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2007-10-07.

[10] Official Press Release Announcing Her Death Archived 2007-10-09 at the Wayback Machine From joanndavis.house.gov Retrieved October 6, 2007.

[clerkresults-11] "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on July 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-10.

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Authority control databases
People	US Congress
Other	SNAC