Steve Shannon
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Stephen C. Shannon
| birthname = Stephen Charles Shannon
| image = Shannonheadshot.jpg
| state_delegate = Virginia
| district = 35th
| term = January 3, 2004 – January 13, 2009
| predecessor = Jeannemarie Devolites Davis
| successor = Mark Keam
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age | 1971 | 4 | 5}}
| birth_place = Berkeley, California, U.S.
| party = Democratic
| spouse = Abigail Suzanne Hochberg
| residence = Dunn Loring, Virginia
| alma_mater = Fairfield University (B.A.)
Georgetown University (M.P.P.)
University of Virginia (J.D.)
| profession = Lawyer
| committees =
| website =
}}Stephen Charles "Steve" Shannon (born April 5, 1971) is an American attorney and Circuit Court Judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. From 2004 to 2009, Shannon represented Virginia's 35th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was the 2009 Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Virginia.{{cite web|title=Steve Shannon, Attorney General |url=http://shannon2009.com |accessdate=2008-11-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220050422/http://www.shannon2009.com/ |archivedate=2008-12-20 }} He was defeated by his opponent, Republican Ken Cuccinelli.
Early life
Shannon graduated from Fenwick High School in 1989, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairfield University in 1993, a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University in 1996, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1999 where he was a John M. Olin Fellow and Scholar in Law and Economics and a member of the Virginia Law Review.{{cite web | title = Project Vote Smart: Steve Shannon Bio | url = http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=50946 | accessdate = 2009-08-21}}
In 2001, Shannon and his wife Abby co-founded the Metropolitan Washington AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Plan, a local extension of the nationwide child recovery program.{{cite web | title = Governor Kaine Promotes Initiative to Provide Wireless Amber Alerts| url = http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=167| date = 2006-06-21}} Shannon's plan for a regional AMBER system successfully coordinated local law enforcement, media, and community groups to create a rapid-response child recovery network. In recognition of this, the Shannons received Fairfax County's highest public service award.{{cite web | title = Virginia House of Delegates, Steve Shannon | url = http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/bbad288bd8d612d285256c23006d3f86/816409c08ebc9ed78525738a0052b60c?OpenDocument | accessdate = 2009-08-21}}
Shannon served as Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Fairfax County where he worked with the state's chief felony prosecutor. Shannon devoted much of his time to consumer protection and child safety issues, frequently prosecuting criminals charged with assault, child molestation, rape and domestic violence. Additionally, Shannon prosecuted one of the state's largest embezzlement cases in an effort to combat institutional corruption.{{cite web | title = Steve Shannon, Attorney General – Fighting Crime | url = http://shannon2009.com/node/18 | accessdate = 2009-08-21 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090403044536/http://www.shannon2009.com/node/18 | archivedate = 2009-04-03 }}
From 2002 to 2003 Shannon served as Vice-Chairman of the Fairfax County Consumer Protection Commission, where he was responsible for protecting citizens from illegal, fraudulent or deceptive consumer practices.
Legislative career
In 2003 Shannon was elected to represent the 35th District in Virginia's House of Delegates. He was re-elected in 2005 and 2007 (winning with 60% and 63%, respectively).{{cite web | title = Virginia Public Access Project, Stephen C Shannon Electoral History | url = http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/elections/56182 | accessdate = 2009-08-21}} He was succeeded in the house by fellow Democrat Mark L. Keam.
Shannon introduced several public safety bills in the Virginia House of Delegates. These included stronger witness protections in cases of violent crime, increased penalties for gang-related violence, Reform of Emergency Response Plans in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, and expansion of Virginia's Rape Shield Statute, and making it a crime to evade sex offender registration{{cite web | title = HB 964 Sex offender registry; penalty for failure to register | url =http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+HB964 | accessdate = 2009-08-21 | date = 2008-01-09}}{{cite web | title = HB 1857 Protective orders; issuance upon conviction in cases of family abuse | url = http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+HB1857 | accessdate= 2009-08-21 | date= 2009-01-14}}{{cite web | title = HB 2570 Victims of crime; right to nondisclosure of certain information | url =http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB2570 | accessdate = 2009-08-21 | date = 2007-01-10}}{{cite web | title = HB 969 Criminal street gangs; causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent | url = http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+HB969 | accessdate = 2009-08-21 | date = 2008-01-09 }}{{cite web | title = HB 2612 Emergency response plans; ensuring victims' rights | url =http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+HB2612 | accessdate = 2009-08-21 | date = 2009-01-23}}
Shannon introduced legislation intended to protect Virginians against identity theft – specifically requiring database managers to implement security measures to guard against unauthorized access to customer information.{{cite web | title = HB 971 Identity theft; notice of database breach| url = http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful+HB971 | accessdate = 2009-08-21 | date = 2008-01-09}}
In January 2009, Shannon responded to the economic crisis by introducing a bill with the intention of increasing government accountability, improving budget oversight, and reducing wasteful bureaucratic spending. Shannon's House Resolution was intended to repair the state's budget shortfalls, strongly recommending that the House of Delegates implement cost-saving measures which he deemed necessary.{{cite web | title = HJ 668 directed to study legislative efficiency and recommend improvements | url = http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+HJ668 | accessdate = 2009-08-21 | date = 2009-01-14}}
2009 Virginia Attorney General Election
Shannon ran as a Democrat for Virginia Attorney General in 2009. His platform included increased restrictions on sex offenders use of Social Networking services{{cite web | title = Shannon 2009, Internet Predators Plan | url = http://www.shannon2009.com/files/internetpredators.pdf | accessdate = 2009-08-21 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091005143611/http://shannon2009.com/files/internetpredators.pdf | archivedate = 2009-10-05 }} and several measures to deter drunk driving, and attempting to curb gang recruitment.{{cite web | title = Shannon 2009, Gangs Plan | url = http://shannon2009.com/gangs | accessdate = 2009-09-23 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091005141156/http://shannon2009.com/gangs | archivedate = 2009-10-05 }}
He defeated attorney John P. Fishwick, Jr. in the Democratic primary.{{cite web|title=2009 Democratic Nomination Contest: Attorney General|url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/attorney-general/election/1517/|website=www.vpap.org|publisher=Virginia Public Access Project|accessdate=24 October 2017|language=en}} In the general election, his candidacy was endorsed by The Washington Post and The Virginian-Pilot. He was defeated by Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli on November 3, 2009.{{cite web| title = Endorsements| url = http://shannon2009.com/endorsements| accessdate = 2009-10-27| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091026141403/http://shannon2009.com/endorsements| archivedate = 2009-10-26}}
Electoral history
| class="wikitable" | |||||
| Date | Election | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan="6" | Virginia House of Delegates, 35th district | |||||
| rowspan="4" | Nov 4, 2003{{cite web | title = General Election- November 4, 2003 | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = http://www.sbe.state.va.us/ElectionResults/2003/Nov/H_08_033.htm | accessdate = 2013-05-31 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140222050948/http://www.sbe.state.va.us/ElectionResults/2003/Nov/H_08_033.htm | archivedate = February 22, 2014 }}
| rowspan="4" align="center" | General | S C Shannon | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | align="right" | 9,151 | align="right" | 51.90 | |||||
| R M Mcdowell
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | align="right" | 8,478 | align="right" | 48.08 | |||||
| colspan="2" | Write Ins
| align="right" | 4 | align="right" | 0.02 | |||||
| colspan="4" style="background:Beige" | Jeannemarie Devolites Davis was elected to the Senate; seat switched from Republican to Democratic | |||||
| rowspan="3" | Nov 8, 2005{{cite web | title = General Election- November 8, 2005 | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2005/nov2005/html/h_33.htm | accessdate = 2013-05-31 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121228235433/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2005/nov2005/html/h_33.htm | archivedate = December 28, 2012 }}
| rowspan="3" align="center" | General | S C Shannon | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | align="right" | 14,626 | align="right" | 60.43 | |||||
| J E Hyland
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | align="right" | 9,568 | align="right" | 39.53 | |||||
| colspan="2" | Write Ins
| align="right" | 11 | align="right" | 0.05 | |||||
| rowspan="3" | Nov 6, 2007{{cite web|title=November 6, 2007 General Election Official Results |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2007/196E44FA-8B19-4240-9A44-737216DAA55D/Unofficial/8_p2_s.shtml |accessdate=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053531/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2007/196E44FA-8B19-4240-9A44-737216DAA55D/Unofficial/8_p2_s.shtml |archivedate=March 4, 2016 }}
| rowspan="3" align="center" | General | Stephen C. Shannon | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | align="right" | 11,956 | align="right" | 63.35 | |||||
| Arthur G. Purves
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | align="right" | 6,900 | align="right" | 36.56 | |||||
| colspan="2" | Write Ins
| align="right" | 15 | align="right" | 0.07 | |||||
| colspan="6" | Attorney General of Virginia | |||||
| rowspan="4" | Nov 3, 2009{{cite web | title = November 2009 General Election Official Results | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2009/37C2EDEB-FACB-44C1-AF70-05FB616DCD62/Official/4_s.shtml | accessdate = 2013-05-31}}
| rowspan="4" align="center" | General | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | align="right" | 1,124,137 | align="right" | 57.51 | |||||
| Stephen C. Shannon
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | align="right" | 828,687 | align="right" | 42.39 | |||||
| colspan="2" | Write Ins
| align="right" | 1,772 | align="right" | 0.09 | |||||
| colspan="4" style="background:Beige" | Bob McDonnell resigned to run for Governor; office stayed Republican |
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/a7b082ef6ed01eac85256c0d00515644/816409c08ebc9ed78525738a0052b60c?OpenDocument Virginia House of Delegates: Bio for Stephen C. Shannon (2008 session)]
- [http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/home/56182 Virginia Public Access Project: Stephen C. Shannon]
- [https://archive.today/20130130160446/http://www.ofplaw.com/profiles.htm?id=77 Odin, Feldman & Pittleman Profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517154215/http://viewfromva.com/ The View from Virginia with Delegate Steve Shannon]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080515014230/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/votersguide/2007/va/candidates/stephen-c-shannon/ Stephen C. Shannon - 2007 - Va. House of Delegates District 35 | Washington Area Elections | washingtonpost.com]
- [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=50946 Project Vote Smart - Representative Stephen C. 'Steve' Shannon - Biography]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon, Steve}}
Category:Fairfield University alumni
Category:McCourt School of Public Policy alumni
Category:University of Virginia School of Law alumni
Category:Lawyers from Berkeley, California
Category:Politicians from Fairfax County, Virginia
Category:21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly