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Wendy Gooditis

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Wendy Gooditis
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 10th district
In office
January 10, 2018 – January 10, 2024
Preceded byRandy Minchew
Succeeded byDan Helmer (redistricting)
Personal details
Born1960 (age 63–64)
New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseChristopher Gooditis
Children2
EducationRutgers 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

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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.[citation needed]

Political career

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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

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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

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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

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Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 2nd district
November 7, 2017[12] General Wendy Gooditis Democratic 15,161 51.90%
Randy Minchew Republican 14,025 48.01%
November 5, 2019[13] General Wendy Gooditis Democratic 15,928 52.31%
Randy Minchew Republican 14,500 47.62%
November 2, 2021[14] General Wendy Gooditis Democratic 21,229 50.02%
Nick Clemente Republican 20,408 49.00%

Awards and recognition

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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

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

See also

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References

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