Virginia Beach Del. Terrie Suit will resign to become lobbyist

RICHMOND

Virginia Beach Republican Del. Terrie Suit's unexpected announcement Tuesday that she is resigning sent Democrats and the GOP scurrying to figure out plans to contest her soon-to-be vacant seat.

Suit is leaving her legislative duties to work as a lobbyist with a law firm after spending much of her career in the mortgage industry, a profession hard hit by the weak national economy.

Her resignation is effective Oct. 12.

She will join the Williams Mullen law firm in its Virginia Beach office and divide her time between there and Washington, D.C.

Her seat will likely be filled through a special election called by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, the timing of which has not been determined.

In a written statement, House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, called Suit one of the legislature's "most highly regarded members" and described her departure as "bittersweet."

House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Henry, conceded that Suit's 81st legislative district, which includes portions of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, leans heavily Republican, but he said Democrats will field a competitive candidate in a special election.

On the Republican side, at least one candidate will be in the race and another is considering a bid.

In an e-mail sent minutes after Suit's Tuesday morning announcement, Virginia Beach planning commissioner Barry D. Knight declared himself a GOP candidate.

Later Tuesday, Beach Sheriff Paul Lanteigne confirmed his interest during a telephone interview.

"My biggest consideration now is whether I run as a Republican or an independent," said Lanteigne, who was elected sheriff under the GOP banner but held seats on the City Council and the School Board as an independent.

Suit, 43, has endorsed Knight.

Elected in 1999, Suit was among an incoming class of legislators who helped Republicans take control in the House of Delegates.

She said her departure after nine years in the General Assembly was influenced by the retirement of her husband, Tom, from a 27-year military career.

"It wasn't until he made the decision to retire that I began looking at, 'It's time to be home with my guy,' " she said.

Suit was last re-elected in 2007. Her current two-year term doesn't expire until January 2010. But the Williams Mullen overture prompted her to leave office early, she said. "Once they made a financial offer, I thought it would be unethical to continue to serve."

Suit said that in the short term her lobbying work will focus on mortgage industry regulation; she is barred by state law from lobbying the General Assembly or Virginia legislative agencies for one year from the time of her resignation.

The Williams Mullen division she will join is run by former Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, the state co-chair of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign.

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com