Chris Head (politician)

Christopher T. Head (born January 13, 1963) is an American politician. A Republican, he currently serves in the Senate of Virginia, representing the 3rd district which includes all of Alleghany County, Botetourt County, Craig County, Rockbridge County, Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro, and parts of Augusta County and Roanoke County.[1] He previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2012-2024, representing the 17th district, made up parts of Botetourt and Roanoke counties and the city of Roanoke, in the western part of the state.[1]

Chris Head
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 3rd district
Assumed office
January 10, 2024
Preceded byTommy Norment (redistricting)
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 17th district
In office
January 11, 2012 – January 10, 2024
Preceded byWilliam Cleaveland
Succeeded byTerry Austin (Redistricting)
Personal details
Born
Christopher T. Head

(1963-01-13) January 13, 1963 (age 61)
Commerce, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseElizabeth Ann Frost
Children3
EducationUniversity of Georgia (B.Mus.)
OccupationIn-home health care
CommitteesEducation and Health,
General Laws and Technology,
Rehabilitation and Social Services
Websitesenatorchrishead.com

Early life, education, business career

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Chris Head grew up in Commerce, Georgia. He received a BMus degree from the University of Georgia in 1985.[1] Shortly after he moved to Virginia, where he was a small business owner. In 2001, Chris and his wife, Besty, co-founded their first franchise of Home Instead Senior Care, an in-home health care service business.[1] They have three children.[1] He is a deacon at his church, Bonsack Baptist, and sings in the choir. He is a member of multiple civic and philanthropic organizations in the Roanoke Valley and in 2009 was awarded the Roanoke Regional Small Business of the Year.[2]

Political career

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When William Fralin retired in 2009 from his 17th House of Delegate seat, Head ran for the Republican nomination. He finished second in a five-way primary to William Cleaveland.

Cleaveland chose not to run for a second term in 2011, and Head was nominated to replace him. Head defeated Democratic candidate Freeda S. Cathcart in the general election, 11,852-6,207.[3]

In the House, Head most recently served as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Health, Welfare, and Institutions, as well as on the House Committee on Commerce and Labor, the House Committee on Privileges and Elections, and the House Committee on Rules. He previously served on the House Committee on Appropriations, House Committee on Finance, and the House Committee on Military, Police, & Public Safety.[4] He also serves on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which reviews regulations of the executive branch.[2] He is also the founder and chairman of the Business Development Caucus in the House of Delegates.[5] He previously served as Co-Chair of the Virginia Small Business Commission.[2]

Following redistricting, Head sought election to the Virginia Senate in 2023. Head secured the Republican nomination uncontested and later defeated Democratic candidate Jade Harris in the general election (65.88% to 33.99%).[3] He currently serves on the Senate Committee on Education & Health, the Senate Committee on General Laws & Technology, and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation & Social Services. [4]

Electoral history

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Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 17th district
Jun 9, 2009[6] Republican primary Bill H. Cleaveland 893 28.04
Christopher T. Head 769 24.15
Michael A. "Mike" Wray 613 19.25
Josh C. Johnson 549 17.24
Melvin E. Williams 360 11.30
Nov 8, 2011[3] General Christopher T. Head Republican 11,852 65.46
Freeda L. Cathcart Democratic 6,207 34.28
Write-ins 44 0.24
William Cleaveland retired; seat stayed Republican
Nov 5, 2013[7] General Christopher T. Head Incumbent Republican 15,222 62
Freeda L. Cathcart Democratic 9,262 37.7
Write-ins 68 0.3
Jun 9, 2015 [5] Republican

Primary

Christopher T. Head Incumbent 1,284 57.7
Harry Griego 1,152 47.3
Nov 3, 2015 [6] General Christopher T. Head Incumbent Republican 15,091 96.5
All others 540 3.5
Nov 7, 2017 [7] General Christopher T. Head Incumbent Republican 15,997 60.6
Djuna Osborne Democratic 10,378 39.3
All others 39 0.1
Nov 5, 2019 [8] General Christopher T. Head Incumbent Republican 15,288 93.5
All others 1,058 6.5
Nov 2, 2021 [9] General Christopher T. Head Incumbent Republican 26,102 92.8
All others 2,011 7.2
Senate of Virginia, 3rd district
Nov 7, 2023 [10] General Christopher T. Head Republican 41,381 65.88
Jade D. Harris Democratic 21,353 33.99
All others/Write-In 83 0.13

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d "Virginia House of Delegates 2012; Delegate Christopher T. Head;". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  2. ^ a b "Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings". virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  3. ^ a b "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  4. ^ "Richmond Sunlight » Delegate Chris Head (R-Roanoke)". www.richmondsunlight.com. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  5. ^ "Business Development Caucus". Business Development Caucus. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  6. ^ "2009 June Republican Primary Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  7. ^ "November 2013 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
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Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 17th district

2012–2024
Succeeded by
Senate of Virginia
Preceded by Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 3rd district

2024–Present
Incumbent