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 (1943-05-08) May 8, 1943 (age 81) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Cecelia Joy Stump
Residence	Falmouth, Virginia
Alma mater	University of Richmond (BS) University of Virginia (LLB)
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William James Howell (born May 8, 1943) is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He represented Virginia's 28th House of Delegates district from 1992 until 2018 and served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2003 to 2018.^[1] He also serves as chairman of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission.^[2] Presiding over the House during a period of Republican dominance in that chamber, Howell has been applauded by many in and out of his party as a pragmatic leader but is also notable 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.^[3]