Robert Freis
Craig County’s representatives are among 140 legislators currently meeting in Richmond for the 2024 General Assembly session.
The legislature convened at the State Capitol on Jan.14 and is scheduled for a 60-day session. It is the oldest continuous law-making body in the Western Hemisphere , having begun in 1619 as the House of Burgesses.
It met in Jamestown from 1619 until 1699, when it first moved to the College of William & Mary near Williamsburg, Virginia, and from 1705 met in the colonial Capitol building. It became the General Assembly in 1776 with the ratification of the Virginia Constitution. The government was moved to Richmond in 1780 during the administration of Gov. Thomas Jefferson.
Del. Tery Austin represents Craig County in the state House of Delegates. Austin, a Republican from Bptetourt County, was elected in November to represent House District 37, which includes all of Craig County, Botetourt County and Alleghany County, part of Rockbridge county and all of the cities of Buena Vista, Covington and Lexington.
Austin, 68, is a former Botetourt County Board of Supervisors member and has served in the 100-member House of Delegates since 2014. He is the president and CEO of Austin Electric Co.
In Richmond he serves on the Appropriations, Transportation. and Rules committees.
Sen. Chris Head is Craig County’s representative in the 40-member Virginia Senate. Head, a Republican, is in his first term in the Senate, having previously served in the House of Delegates. He was elected in November to the new District 3 created by redistricting.
District 3 includes Craig County in addition to Alleghany, Botetourt and Rockbridge counties, part of Augusta and Roanoke counties, and the entire cities of Buena Vista, Lexington, Covington, Staunton and Waynesboro.
Head, 60, owns a senior care business and served in the state House since 2012.
In Richmond he has been assigned to the Education and Health, General Laws and Technology, and Rehabilitation and Social Services committees.
Constituents can reach Del. Austin in Richmond via email at DelTAustin@house.virginia.gov or by calling his office at (804) 698-1037. He also has a Facebook page and an account at https://twitter.com/TerryAustin4HOD.
Sen. Head can be emailed at senatorhead@senatevirginia.gov or by calling his office at (804) 698-7503. He has a Facebook page.
The 2024 General Assembly is characterized by narrow Democratic Party majorities, 51-49 in the House and 21-19 in the Senate. However, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is a Republican.
Also unique to the current legislature is that Del. Don Scott, a Democrat from Portsmouth who is African American, serves as House speaker, the first Black Virginian to do so. Additionally, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, an African American and Republican, is presiding over the Senate.