Va. House caucuses choose leaders

The Virginia House of Delegates' Democratic and Republican caucuses each elected their leadership for the 2010 General Assembly session during the weekend.

The Republican caucus, strengthened after picking up at least five seats in the House this month, re-elected Speaker of the House William J. Howell, R-Stafford.

They also voted to keep Del. H. Morgan Griffith of Salem as majority leader, Del. Samuel A. Nixon Jr. of Chesterfield County as caucus chair and Del. M. Kirkland Cox of Colonial Heights as majority whip. The party posts were chosen by acclamation, but the full House membership will vote on Howell's post when the General Assembly meets in January in Richmond.

Democrats re-elected Del. Ward L. Armstrong of Henry County as the House minority leader.

Other Democrats selected were Kenneth R. Plum of Fairfax County, caucus chairman; Jennifer L. McClellan of Richmond, first vice chairwoman; David L. Englin of Alexandria, second vice chairman; Mark D. Sickles of Fairfax County, secretary; Jeion A. Ward of Hampton, treasurer; and Rosalyn R. Dance of Petersburg, sergeant at arms/parliamentarian.

-- Olympia Meola