Howell won't seek re-election, will retire after 15 years as Virginia speaker of the House
Speaker of the House William J. Howell, R-Stafford, will not run for re-election this year but instead will retire after 30 years in the House of Delegates, the last 15 as speaker.
Howell, who will turn 74 in May, is expected to announce his decision Monday, but sources close to the speaker confirmed his intention to retire after the end of his two-year term in January. His aide, Chris West, said Sunday that the speaker declined to comment about the pending announcement.
His decision to step down is likely to open the door for House Majority Leader M. Kirkland Cox, R-Colonial Heights, to become speaker next year.
Howell’s retirement will mark the end of an era for the unquestioned leader of a House that was reeling when he became speaker in 2003 after the resignation of Speaker S. Vance Wilkins Jr. the previous year amid a sexual harassment scandal. Howell will end his career as the second longest-serving House speaker in Virginia history, after Edgar Blackburn “Blackie” Moore, who held the job from 1950 through 1967.
Read more: http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/general-assembly/howell-won-t-seek-re-election-will-retire-after-years/article_3ec756a8-9aad-5c24-ac94-dc7dfb890600.html
