William J. Howell
William Howell | |
|---|---|
| 54th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates | |
| In office January 8, 2003 – January 10, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Lacey Putney (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Kirk Cox |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 28th district | |
| In office January 8, 1992 – January 10, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Clinton Miller |
| Succeeded by | Bob Thomas |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 53rd district | |
| In office January 13, 1988 – January 8, 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Moncure |
| Succeeded by | Jim Scott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William James Howell May 8, 1943 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Cecelia Joy Stump |
| Education | |
| Signature | |
William James Howell (born May 8, 1943) is an American attorney and former politician from the Virginia. A member of the Republican Party, he represented the 28th district in the House of Delegates from 1992 until 2018, and served as Speaker of the House of Delegates from 2003 to 2018.
Howell presided over the House of Delegates during a period of Republican dominance in the chamber. During his tenure, he acquired a reputation as a political pragmatist, and faced internal criticism from Republican delegates affiliated with the Tea Party movement. He is also noted for heading Virginia's controversial redistricting efforts following the 2010 census and firmly opposing efforts to expand Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.