Ben Cline
Encyclopedia
Benjamin L. "Ben" Cline (born February 29, 1972 in Stillwater, Oklahoma
) is an American politician of the Republican Party
. He is serving his fifth term in the Virginia House of Delegates
. He was first elected in 2002 by special election, replacing incumbent Delegate Vance Wilkins
who resigned the seat. He represents the 24th district, consisting of Rockbridge County
, the Cities of Buena Vista
and Lexington
, and parts of Amherst
and Augusta
Counties.
Cline was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma and grew up in Rockbridge County, Virginia. He graduated from Lexington High School in 1990. Cline graduated from Bates College
in 1994 and the University of Richmond School of Law
in 2007. He served as Chief of Staff for United States Representative
Robert "Bob" Goodlatte before running for office. From 2002 to 2007, he was president of NDS Corporation, a Virginia-based company providing sales and marketing assistance to rural Internet and technology businesses. After graduating from law school, he was hired as an assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Rockingham County
and Harrisonburg
. Cline is the son of Philip L. and Julie Cline and husband to Elizabeth Rocovich Cline.
, who resigned due to sexual harassment
allegations. Cline won in 2002 with 57.43% of the vote despite Democratic opposition from current Lexington
Mayor Mimi Elrod. In 2003, Cline won again with 69.17% of the vote against Independent
E.W. Sheffield. In 2005, he won with 62.44% of the vote against Democrat
David Cox. Cline ran unopposed in 2007. In 2009, Cline ran against Amherst native and Democrat Jeff Price and won with 70.86% of the vote, taking the Lexington City precinct for the first time since his election in 2002 and also taking every precinct in the 24th House of Delegates district.
by Mark Obenshain
.
Transfer Grant Program. In 2008, Cline supported the opening of an Amherst branch of Central Virginia Community College
and new facilities for the Rockbridge branch of Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
. In 2009, Cline sponsored, but did not have included in the final state budget, amendments that looked to cut the budget of the Virginia Lottery in half, which would in turn put those fund into the Literary Fund used to fund public schools in Virginia.
. In 2009, he passed HB2285, which created a searchable database of Virginia’s agency expenditures. Additionally, Cline went after the Virginia Lottery in 2009 for the allotment of over $1 million of state funds to use the likeness of Howie Mandel
and Donald Trump
on lottery tickets.
to notify prosecutors of gang affiliation of inmates charged with an offense committed while in prison, and HB2637, which requires fingerprinting of individuals arrested for the violation of a protective order.
is the main branch of the Interstate Highway System
in the 24th district. In 2005, Cline patroned HB2554, a bill that created the I-81 Safety Task Force, and HJ709, a resolution that encouraged Congress to develop a multistate I-81 initiative. In 2006, he sponsored HB1581, which created the I-81 Intermodal Rail study.
, the Blue Ridge Mountains
, the Maury River
, the James River
, and Goshen Pass
. Notable residents from the area include Samuel Houston, Stonewall Jackson
, Robert E. Lee
, Cyrus McCormick
, Pat Robertson
, and Rick Mast
.
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater is a city in north-central Oklahoma at the intersection of U.S. 177 and State Highway 51. It is the county seat of Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 45,688. Stillwater is the principal city of the Stillwater Micropolitan Statistical...
) is an American politician of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He is serving his fifth term in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
. He was first elected in 2002 by special election, replacing incumbent Delegate Vance Wilkins
Vance Wilkins
Shirley Vance Wilkins, Jr. is a retired American politician of the Republican Party. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1978-2002...
who resigned the seat. He represents the 24th district, consisting of Rockbridge County
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, the Cities of Buena Vista
Buena Vista, Virginia
Buena Vista is an independent city located within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia. The population was 6,650 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Buena Vista with Rockbridge county for statistical purposes.-Geography:Buena Vista is located at...
and Lexington
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
, and parts of Amherst
Amherst County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,894 people, 11,941 households, and 8,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 people per square mile . There were 12,958 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
and Augusta
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
Counties.
Early life
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
in 1994 and the University of Richmond School of Law
University of Richmond School of Law
The University of Richmond School of Law , a school of the University of Richmond, is located in Richmond, Virginia...
in 2007. He served as Chief of Staff for United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Robert "Bob" Goodlatte before running for office. From 2002 to 2007, he was president of NDS Corporation, a Virginia-based company providing sales and marketing assistance to rural Internet and technology businesses. After graduating from law school, he was hired as an assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Rockingham County
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
and Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
. Cline is the son of Philip L. and Julie Cline and husband to Elizabeth Rocovich Cline.
Political career
Cline started his political career in 2002 by running for the House of Delegates seat left vacant by Vance WilkinsVance Wilkins
Shirley Vance Wilkins, Jr. is a retired American politician of the Republican Party. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1978-2002...
, who resigned due to sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
allegations. Cline won in 2002 with 57.43% of the vote despite Democratic opposition from current Lexington
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
Mayor Mimi Elrod. In 2003, Cline won again with 69.17% of the vote against Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
E.W. Sheffield. In 2005, he won with 62.44% of the vote against Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
David Cox. Cline ran unopposed in 2007. In 2009, Cline ran against Amherst native and Democrat Jeff Price and won with 70.86% of the vote, taking the Lexington City precinct for the first time since his election in 2002 and also taking every precinct in the 24th House of Delegates district.
Legislative career
Committee assignments
Currently, Cline serves on the House of Delegates Committees on Commerce and Labor, Courts of Justice, Finance, and Militia, Police and Public Safety. He chairs Finance Subcommittee #3 and Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #2. He also is a member of Commerce and Labor Subcommittee #2, Commerce and Labor Special Subcommittee on Energy, Courts of Justice Subcommittee on Criminal Law, Courts of Justice Subcommittee on Judicial Systems and Finance Subcommittee #2. Cline is also the House co-chair of the Virginia Joint Legislative Conservative Caucus, which is also co-chaired in the Senate of VirginiaSenate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
by Mark Obenshain
Mark Obenshain
Mark D. Obenshain is a Republican member of the Senate of Virginia from Harrisonburg. Obenshain has accumulated a conservative voting record since his election to the Shenandoah Valley's 26th state senate district in 2003...
.
Education
In 2006, Cline sponsored HB1125, which created a school sales tax holiday in the Commonwealth, and HB1135, which allowed for members of military stationed in Commonwealth to receive in-state tuition in Virginia. In 2007, he sponsored HB2168, which created the Community CollegeCommunity college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
Transfer Grant Program. In 2008, Cline supported the opening of an Amherst branch of Central Virginia Community College
Central Virginia Community College
Central Virginia Community College, CVCC, is a two-year college located in Lynchburg, Virginia and is part of the Virginia Community College System...
and new facilities for the Rockbridge branch of Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College is one of 23 public community colleges in the Virginia Community College System. It is named after Dr. Dabney S. Lancaster, a prominent Virginia educator who held a number of positions in education, having an impact on students at all levels—K-12 through college...
. In 2009, Cline sponsored, but did not have included in the final state budget, amendments that looked to cut the budget of the Virginia Lottery in half, which would in turn put those fund into the Literary Fund used to fund public schools in Virginia.
Government regulation
In 2006, Cline passed two bills, HB1130 and HB1131, which changed the administrative setup of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland FisheriesVirginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, or VDGIF, regulates fish and wildlife in Virginia. It is managed by the Director of Game and Inland Fisheries and overseen by the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries.-Mission:...
. In 2009, he passed HB2285, which created a searchable database of Virginia’s agency expenditures. Additionally, Cline went after the Virginia Lottery in 2009 for the allotment of over $1 million of state funds to use the likeness of Howie Mandel
Howie Mandel
Howard Michael "Howie" Mandel is a Canadian stand-up comedian, television host, and actor. He is well known as host of the NBC game show Deal or No Deal, as well as the show's daytime and Canadian-English counterparts. Before his career as a game show host, Mandel was best known for his role on...
and Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
on lottery tickets.
Criminal prosecution
In 2003, Cline introduced HB2229, which deals with probation for underage alcohol possession. In 2004, he introduced HB1204, which increased penalties for people having multiple offenses pertaining to driving while intoxicated. In 2007, he sponsored HB2453, which enhanced penalties for repeated offenders driving without a license, and HB2459, which increased the penalties for elder abuse. In 2008, he passed HB1362, which established a penalty for the misuse of public assets, and HB1363, which increases penalties for trademark counterfeiting. In 2009, he sponsored HB2441, which requires Virginia Department of CorrectionsVirginia Department of Corrections
The Virginia Department of Corrections is the government agency responsible for operating prisons and correctional facilities for the US Commonwealth of Virginia. The agency is fully accredited by the American Correctional Association and is one of the oldest functioning correctional agencies in...
to notify prosecutors of gang affiliation of inmates charged with an offense committed while in prison, and HB2637, which requires fingerprinting of individuals arrested for the violation of a protective order.
Interstate 81
Interstate 81Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
is the main branch of the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
in the 24th district. In 2005, Cline patroned HB2554, a bill that created the I-81 Safety Task Force, and HJ709, a resolution that encouraged Congress to develop a multistate I-81 initiative. In 2006, he sponsored HB1581, which created the I-81 Intermodal Rail study.
24th district
Cline represents the 24th House of Delegates district in Virginia. The district covers all of Rockbridge County, including the cities of Buena Vista and Lexington, almost all of Amherst County, and portions of Augusta County extending towards the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. There are four four-year institutions in the district including Sweet Briar College, Southern Virginia University, Washington and Lee University, and the Virginia Military Institute. Also located with the district are area branches of two community colleges, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College and Central Virginia Community College. Natural wonders in the area include the Natural BridgeNatural Bridge (Virginia)
Natural Bridge, known as Natty B by locals, in the eponymous Rockbridge County, Virginia is a geological formation in which Cedar Creek has carved out a gorge in the mountainous limestone terrain, forming an arch 215 ft high with a span of 90 ft...
, the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
, the Maury River
Maury River
The Maury River is a tributary of the James River in west-central Virginia in the United States. Via the James River, it is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay.The Maury flows for its entire length in Rockbridge County...
, the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
, and Goshen Pass
Goshen Pass
Goshen Pass is a water gap, or gorge, in the Little North Mountain, formed by the passage of the Maury River, approximately northwest of Lexington in Rockbridge County, Virginia. State Route 39 traverses the pass along the banks of the Maury River....
. Notable residents from the area include Samuel Houston, Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
, Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
, Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902.He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans....
, Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a media mogul, television evangelist, ex-Baptist minister and businessman who is politically aligned with the Christian Right in the United States....
, and Rick Mast
Rick Mast
Rick Mast is a former NASCAR driver. He competed in both the Winston Cup and Busch Series before retiring in 2002...
.