First elected in 2001 to the United States House of Representatives, J. Randy Forbes brought with him a vast array of real world experience to Washington. Growing up in Chesapeake, Virginia, Randy was the second child in a working class family. His father was a service member, his mother a homemaker. As a senior at Great Bridge High School, Randy’s principal, Harry Blevins, first encouraged the lifelong Virginian to pursue public service.
Through a series of jobs, Randy worked his way through Randolph-Macon College, graduating in 1974 as valedictorian. He then pursued his law degree from the University of Virginia. After graduating from law school, his began his career in the private practice of law helping small and medium-sized businesses. Later, Randy established his own firm, Randy Forbes and Associates, P.C. In 1998, he became a partner in the largest law firm in southeastern Virginia, Kaufman & Canoles.
In 1989, Randy was elected to the Virginia General Assembly. Randy quickly established himself as a conservative leader, becoming the Republican Floor Leader in the House of Delegates from 1994-1997. In 1997, Randy was elected to the Virginia State Senate, and just a year later, he became the Republican Floor Leader of the Senate.
While serving in the Virginia General Assembly, Randy was the Chief Patron of groundbreaking legislation that has helped make Virginia's streets and neighborhoods safer by abolishing parole and enacting truth-in-sentencing guidelines. In addition, Randy also championed Virginia's first School Construction Grants Program to help assist localities with the skyrocketing costs of building new schools.
Randy was the author of Virginia's Senior Citizens Bill of Rights and the Virginia Taxpayer Bill of Rights. He fought tirelessly in the Virginia House and Senate to make sure that lottery money was returned to localities for education.
When Randy was elected Chairm
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