Lee Ware

Ware was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He received a B.A. degree in history and literature from Wheaton College in 1974. He also received an M.A. in American History from Harvard University. Additionally, he has pursued graduate studies in the same subjects Asbury Seminary, Northeastern University, Longwood University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.[3]

Ware moved to Powhatan, Virginia as editor of the weekly newspaper the Powhatan Gazette, where he worked between 1981-1984.

Starting in 1984, Ware taught history and government at Powhatan High School for 15 years. He later taught at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Academy. In 2012 he became academic dean of Benedictine College Preparatory School[4] until his retirement in 2014. Ware is a Roman Catholic.

Ware has served on the House committees on:[5]

• Agriculture (1998–2001)
• Chesapeake and Natural Resources (2002–)
• Claims (1998–1999)
• Commerce and Labor (2002–)
• Conservation and Natural Resources (1998–2001)
• Corporations
• Insurance and Banking (1998–2001)
• Finance (2001–)
• Militia and Police (2000–2001)
• Militia
• Police and Public Safety (2002–2003)
• Mining and Mineral Resources (1998–2000)
• Rules (2010–)

His current Committee Membership assignments include:

• Finance
• Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resource
• Commerce and Labor
• Rules

His current Subcommittee Membership assignments include:[6]

• Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources - Subcommittee #2
• Finance - Subcommittee #2
• Finance - Subcommittee #3
• Commerce and Labor - Subcommittee #1
• Rules - Subcommittee #1

Ware also serves by appointment on several commissions, including:

• Small Business
• Water
• Health Insurance Reform
• Coal & Energy
• Unemployment Compensation
• Employment Retirement Security and Pension Reform

He is a member of:[7]

• Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates
• Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees
• joint subcommittees on Local Government Fiscal Stress and Tax Preferences

Ware is the former Chairman of the House Finance Committee.[8]

Ware has historically opposed efforts to lift Virginia's selective ban on Sunday hunting.[9] [10] In 2014, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed legislation to permit hunting on Sunday allowing private property owners to choose for their own property, not within 200 yards of church, and no use of hunting deer with hounds.[11] This victory was passed by large margin of 71 in favor and the minority at 27 against.[12]

Ware served two terms on the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors, 1988–1996. He was board chairman for one year.[2][13]

On December 17, 1997, state Senator Joseph B. Benedetti resigned his seat to accept Governor-elect Jim Gilmore's offer to become head of the state Department of Criminal Justice Services. 65th district Delegate John Watkins was chosen to succeed Benedetti in a special election on January 6, 1998. On January 13, the day before the Virginia General Assembly convened, Ware won a special election to replace Watkins. He was sworn in three days later.[14][15]

• "Lee Ware". Virginia Public Access Project. (campaign finance)
• "Delegate Lee Ware (R-Powhatan)". Richmond Sunlight.
• "Election Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-04-29.