Kelly Convirs-Fowler
Kelly Convirs-Fowler | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Ron Villanueva |
| Constituency | 21st district (2018–2024) 96th district (2024–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kelly Kristen Convirs Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | William Fowler |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Virginia Wesleyan College Old Dominion University |
Kelly Convirs-Fowler is an American politician from Virginia. Since 2018, she has served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 96. She was first elected in November 2017.[1] In the 2023 election, she was elected in District 96.
Fowler serves on the Privileges and Elections Committee and the Science and Technology Committee.[2]
Early life and career
[edit]Kelly Convirs-Fowler was born and raised in Virginia Beach. She is of Filipino and Mexican descent. She graduated from Tallwood High School and Virginia Wesleyan College, where she majored in Psychology and Criminal Justice. Both schools are in Virginia Beach.[3] After earning her Master's degree in Education at the Old Dominion University, she began teaching at Lynnhaven Elementary. She left her job to begin a home renovation business with her husband. They specialize in serving military families.[4]
Political career
[edit]Fowler ran to be a delegate in Virginia's 2017 election against incumbent Ron Villanueva. She won the election with 52.3% of the vote, and took office in January 2018.[5] She and Kathy Tran were the first Asian-American women to be elected to Virginia's House of Delegates.
Fowler ran for reelection in the 2019 election. She defeated Republican Shannon D.S. Kane with 54.5% of the vote.[6]
Fowler ran for a third term in the 2021 election. In one of the closest races in Virginia that year, she defeated Tanya Gould by 1% of the vote.
During the 2020 special session, Fowler abstained on HB5013 which was intended to end qualified immunity for law enforcement following the 2020 summer Black Lives Matter protests. Her abstention was due to her own husband, David Fowler, being a deputy sheriff, which effectively killed the bill.[7]
In the 2023 Virginia House of Delegates election, she was elected in District 96.
Personal life
[edit]She is married to William Fowler, and they have three kids.[8] William Fowler was a deputy sheriff sergeant and was fired after the Virginia Beach sheriff "lost confidence in [his] ability to serve the community". Although the position serves at the pleasure of the sheriff, Fowler then sued, claiming he was wrongly fired.[9]
She came out as bisexual at a Pride event in Virginia Beach on June 26, 2022.[10]
Convirs-Fowler has claimed to have the personal laptop of the Virginia Beach mass shooter.[11] She then refused to voluntarily give the laptop to Virginia Beach police.[12]
Electoral history
[edit]See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Connors, Mike (November 7, 2017). "Democrat Fowler knocks off veteran Republican Villanueva in 21st District". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
- ^ "LIS Virginia". Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ "Kelly Convirs-Fowler". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Virginia's Kelly Fowler – First-time Candidate - Asian Fortune". Asianfortunenews.com. November 2, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
- ^ Kelly Fowler at vpap.org
- ^ "2019 November General". Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ Convirs-Fowler, Kelly. "Post". Facebook. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ WILSON, PATRICK. "Va. lawmaker announces she's pregnant with her third child". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Virginia Beach sheriff sued for wrongful termination".
- ^ "The Virginian-Pilot".
- ^ "VB delegate claims to have personal laptop of mass shooter".
- ^ "Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler says she will not voluntarily give police mystery laptop found in mass shooter's home".
- Living people
- 21st-century American women politicians
- American politicians of Filipino descent
- American politicians of Mexican descent
- Asian American and Pacific Islander state legislators in Virginia
- Hispanic and Latino American women in politics
- Democratic Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates
- Old Dominion University alumni
- People from Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Virginia Wesleyan University alumni
- Women state legislators in Virginia
- Bisexual women politicians
- LGBTQ state legislators in Virginia
- American bisexual women
- American bisexual politicians
- 21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly