Schuyler VanValkenburg
VanValkenburg in 2023
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 16th district
Assumed office
January 10, 2024
Preceded byJoe Morrissey (Redistricting)
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 72nd district
In office
January 18, 2018 – January 10, 2024
Preceded byJimmie Massie
Succeeded byDestiny Levere Bolling (Redistricting)
Personal details
Born
Schuyler Thomas VanValkenburg

1982 (age 41–42)
Johnstown, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceRichmond, Virginia
Alma materUniversity of Richmond
Virginia Commonwealth University
ProfessionTeacher
Delegate
CommitteesEducation
Privileges & Elections
School Safety

Schuyler Thomas VanValkenburg (born 1982) is an American teacher and politician. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 72nd District on November 7, 2017, to replace retiring delegate Jimmie Massie. He defeated Republicans Eddie Whitlock and GayDonna Vandergriff in the 2017 and 2019 elections, respectively. In the 2023 state elections, VanValkenburg was elected over incumbent Siobhan Dunnavant in the newly redrawn 16th District.[1][2] The race was considered highly competitive for control of the State Senate.[3]

Career

VanValkenburg taught at Short Pump Middle School and continues to teach at Glen Allen High School after his election to the House of Delegates, working as a part-time legislator. A Democrat, he defeated Republican lawyer Edward Whitlock III in 2017 as part of a Democratic wave in Virginia.[4]

VanValkenburg has introduced twelve education-related bills since taking office.[5]

Committee assignments

Political positions

Labor relations

VanValkenburg opposes the use of covenants not to compete (also known as non-compete agreements) in certain cases, such as for relatively low-wage workers or workers who do not have access to sensitive trade secrets, such as sandwich-makers, baristas or gym trainers. He filed a bill in 2019 which would prohibit employers from enforcing non-compete agreements when no trade secrets were involved. VanValkenburg's bill would apply only to workers whose average weekly earnings were less than the state's average weekly wage.[7]

Civil liberties

In 2019, VanValkenburg announced a bill to reform Virginia's anti-strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) laws. VanValkenburg's proposed bill came after Virginia's anti-SLAPP laws, which were intended to protect people from being intimidated or silenced by frivolous lawsuits, were criticized for being overly lax, allowing plaintiffs such as actor Johnny Depp and California Congressman Devin Nunes to file lawsuits in Virginia that may have been dismissed under California's more stringent laws.[8][9] VanValkenburg's bill, modeled after California's, would allow defendants in defamation cases to file motions to dismiss potentially-frivolous defamation suits earlier in the process. If successful, they would be able to recover attorney fees.[8]

College Sports Betting

In 2024, VanValkenburg filed a bill to update Virginia's sports betting laws. The measure, Senate Bill 124, would amend the in-state college sports betting prohibition. Sen. VanValkenburg told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that college sports betting happens whether regulated or not. This bill would remove any potential conflicting bets and the idea that those living outside Virginia can bet on Virginia college games for locals.[10][11]

Electoral history

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 72nd district
Nov 7, 2017[12] General Schuyler VanValkenburg Democratic 16,655 52.71%
Eddie Whitlock Republican 14,869 47.06%
Nov 5, 2019[13] General Schuyler VanValkenburg Democratic 16,345 53.26%
GayDonna Vandergriff Republican 14,312 46.63%
Nov 2, 2021[14] General Schuyler VanValkenburg Democratic 19,710 53.00%
Christopher Holmes Republican 17,427 46.08%

References

  1. ^ Woods, Charlotte Rene; Kolenich, Eric (November 8, 2023). "VanValkenburg ousts Dunnavant from Senate, Willett holds House seat". Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. A1, A6. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  2. ^ "2023 November General and Special Elections Unofficial Results". Virginia Department of Elections. November 7, 2023. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  3. ^ Moomaw, Graham (2023-10-10). "Senate District 16 race: Democrat VanValkenburg vs. Republican incumbent Dunnavant". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  4. ^ Lappas, Tom (2017-11-07). "Blue crush: Democrats celebrate key Henrico wins". The Henrico Citizen. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  5. ^ "LIS Virginia". Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  6. ^ "Legislator: Schuyler VanValkenburg". www.vpap.org. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  7. ^ Ress, Dave (2019-01-08). "Van Valkenburg: no to non-competes for lower-income workers". The Daily Press. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  8. ^ a b Juvenal, Justin (2019-12-22). "Nunes, Depp lawsuits in Virginia seen as threats to free speech and press". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  9. ^ Casey, Dan (2019-11-30). "CASEY: Easy path to SLAPP suits under scrutiny by Virginia lawmakers". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  10. ^ Kelley, Zachary (2024-01-18). "This Bill Would Regulate Virginia In-State College Betting". LegalSportsBetting.com. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  11. ^ Times-Dispatch, ERIC KOLENICH Richmond (2024-01-15). "Gambling on Virginia's college teams could soon be legal". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  12. ^ "Elections: House of Delegates District 72". www.vpap.org. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  13. ^ "Elections: House of Delegates District 2". www.vpap.org. Virginia Public Access Project. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "2021 November General". results.elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-16.

External links

Virginia House of Delegates Preceded byJimmie Massie Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 72nd district 2018–2024 Succeeded byLee Ware Senate of Virginia Preceded byJoe Morrissey Member of the Virginia Senate from the 16th district 2024–Present Incumbent
Members of the Senate of Virginia
Categories