Year Honored: 2021
Biography
Representative Valerie J. Longhurst was first elected to the Delaware House of Representatives in November 2004 to represent the 15th District, which consists of Bear, Delaware City and St. Georges. In 2008, she was elected as the House Majority Whip and served for four years. After the 2012 election, her caucus elected her House Majority Leader. Rep. Longhurst chaired the House Administration, Ethics and Rules committees. She is also the former chair and member of the Manufactured Housing Committee, and member of the Gaming and Parimutuels committee.
Additionally, her professional development affiliations span many organizations. Rep. Longhurst serves as Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Vice President; National Conference of State Legislators - Women’s Network Advisory Council Member; Revenue and Budget Standing Committee Member; Redistricting and Elections Task Force Member; Council for State Governments Budget and Revenue Standing Committee Member; and is a member of the Delaware Sports Commission Advisory Council. She was formerly Director of Operations for AIG Insurance in Pennsylvania; a Community Advisory Panel member for Delaware City Refinery; Delaware support group leader for National Alopecia Areata Foundation; board member, softball commissioner, and coach for Bear Babe Ruth Little League; and Vice President of Emerald Ridge Maintenance Corporation.
She is the proud mother of two young adult children, Peyton and Andrew, and currently serves as Executive Director of the Police Athletic League of Delaware.
In the Delaware General Assembly, Rep. Longhurst has been a consistent champion for common-sense gun safety measures, women and families, pay equality, suicide prevention and education, afterschool programs, mental health services, equal rights, criminal justice and affordable and accessible healthcare. Her leadership and policy measures have made a lasting impact and helped to bolster the quality life of Delawareans across the state.
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Sources and Additional Readings
Legislature, D. (n.d.). Delaware General Assembly. Representative Valerie Longhurst (D) - Delaware General Assembly. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://legis.delaware.gov/AssemblyMember/151/Longhurst.
- Collections: 2021, Delaware Women Firsts