Wendy Gooditis Explained

Wendy Gooditis
State Delegate:Virginia
District:10th
Term Start:January 10, 2018
Term End:January 10, 2024
Predecessor:Randy Minchew
Successor:Dan Helmer (redistricting)
Birth Place:New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Christopher Gooditis
Children:2
Education:Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BS)
Shenandoah University (MS)

Gwendolyn Wallace Gooditis is an American real estate agent, educator, and politician, known as Wendy Gooditis. A Democrat, Gooditis was elected in November 2017 to represent Virginia's 10th House of Delegates district in the Virginia House of Delegates.[1] The 10th district consisted of portions of Loudoun, Clarke and Frederick counties.[2]

Gooditis lost her brother to mental illness in 2017, shortly after announcing her House of Delegates campaign. Gooditis has said that this experience strengthened her determination to pass legislation focused on expanding Medicaid, suicide prevention, and combatting child abuse.[3]

Gooditis was vice chair of the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee. She also served on the Labor & Commerce and Counties, Cities, and Towns committees.[4]

Early life and education

Gooditis grew up in Cranbury, New Jersey; she lived in Virginia for 25 years before running for office. Formerly a contractor for Bell Laboratories, Gooditis became a teacher in the 2000s, teaching in the Clarke County, Virginia public schools and at a private school.[5] Gooditis then became a real estate agent.[5] [6]

Prior to moving to Virginia, Gooditis was shortlisted for the U.S. Olympic equestrian team as a 3-day eventer.

Political career

Gooditis's successful 2017 run for the 10th district seat in the Virginia House of Delegates was her first run for elected office.[6] She defeated incumbent Republican Randy Minchew, who had held the seat since 2011.[5]

Bills introduced

In 2018, Gooditis introduced House Bill 569, which requires the state to issue an annual report to lawmakers about its progress and activities on suicide prevention. The bill passed with broad bipartisan support and was signed into law in March 2018.[7]

In 2019, Gooditis introduced four bills to combat child abuse. Those bills would change Virginia's definition of child sexual abuse, maintain records of child abuse investigations for three years, make clergy of all religious denominations mandated reporters of child abuse, and penalize those who expose children to domestic violence.[8] [9]

In 2019, Gooditis served as Chief Co-patron of a red flag bill that would allow courts to temporarily remove guns from people who pose an immediate risk to themselves or others.[10]

Medicaid

Gooditis voted to pass Medicaid expansion in the Virginia General Assembly in March 2018, expanding health care access to 400,000 Virginians.[11]

Electoral history

DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes%
Virginia House of Delegates, 2nd district
November 7, 2017[12] GeneralWendy GooditisDemocratic15,16151.90%
Randy MinchewRepublican14,02548.01%
November 5, 2019[13] GeneralWendy GooditisDemocratic15,92852.31%
Randy MinchewRepublican14,50047.62%
November 2, 2021[14] GeneralWendy GooditisDemocratic21,22950.02%
Nick ClementeRepublican20,408 49.00%

Awards and recognition

In August 2019, Gooditis was given the 2019 HosPAC Healthcare Hero award for her efforts in passing Medicaid expansion in Virginia, helping more than 400,000 Virginians qualify for coverage.[15]

Personal life

Gooditis lives in Boyce, Virginia. She has two children with her husband, Christopher.[16]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Nirappil. Fenit. Democrats make significant gains in Virginia legislature; control of House in play. November 9, 2017. The Washington Post. November 8, 2017.
  2. Chantalle Edmunds, Minchew, Democratic candidates field questions at LWV forum; LaRock a no-show, Loudoun Times-Mirror (October 5, 2017).
  3. News: Issues . Wendy Gooditis . October 31, 2019.
  4. Web site: Virginia House of Delegates: Wendy Gooditis.
  5. Chantalle Edmunds, Founder of local Indivisible chapter to challenge Minchew in 10th District, Loudoun Times-Mirror (July 5, 2017).
  6. Cathleen Decker, With election stakes high, even local Virginia contests draw national volunteers and attention, Los Angeles Times (November 6, 2017).
  7. News: New Law Puts Focus on Suicide Prevention Efforts in Virginia . Malone . Scott . April 5, 2018 . US News . October 31, 2019.
  8. News: Del. Gooditis Announces 4 Bills Aimed at Combating Child Abuse . Szabo . Patrick . January 4, 2019 . Loudoun Now . October 31, 2019.
  9. News: Gooditis Outlines Legislative Priorities in 2019. Onofrio . Castiglia. November 30, 2018. July 20, 2019. Winchester Star.
  10. Web site: LIS Virginia . October 31, 2019.
  11. News: Moomaw . Graham . For Va. House Democratic freshmen, Medicaid expansion vote is payoff to 2017 campaigns . March 30, 2018 . July 20, 2019.
  12. Web site: Elections: House of Delegates District 10. www.vpap.org. March 14, 2020.
  13. Web site: Elections: House of Delegates District 10 . www.vpap.org . Virginia Public Access Project . March 14, 2020.
  14. Web site: 2021 November General. November 16, 2021. results.elections.virginia.gov.
  15. News: Vogel, Gooditis named healthcare heroes . Williams . Ellie . August 30, 2019 . Local DVM . October 31, 2019.
  16. https://www.wendygooditis.com/blog/ News — Wendy for Delegate - Delegate Wendy Gooditis