Va. Delegate Added unique perspective to ODU classes

By Jim Raper

Terrie L. Suit ’05 was a 37-year-old Virginia Beach mortgage lender with no political experience when she unseated seven-term Delegate Glen Croshaw in a 1999 General Assembly race. Since then she has gotten – in more ways than one – an education in politics. She now has won four straight terms in the House of Delegates, the last coming in November 2005 when she ran unopposed. She is a Republican appointed by Democratic Gov. Mark R. Warner to the Virginia Commission on Base Retention, and has been a key protector of Oceana Naval Air Station, which is located in her 81st District.

Along the way, she also earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Old Dominion. The degree was conferred in August 2005.

For much of calendar year 2004, Suit attended the university full time to finish a course of study that started years ago and was spread over several schools. “I had picked up some credits, but I needed to get serious. I wore jeans and tank top and felt like a real college student.”

Suit enjoyed the ferment in the political science classes “and got more out of the courses because of my experience in government,” she said. The course that most influenced her was an overview of U.S. constitutional law. In fact, she preferred courses that were overarching, including those concerning foreign relations and global economic issues.

One unanticipated outcome of her education was the candidacy in November 2005 of Joshua G. Behr, assistant professor of political science. He got his first taste of real-world politics by running for a House of Delegates seat representing Norfolk.

He lost the race to the incumbent Democrat, but Behr said he gained valuable experience. “Terrie gave me the inspiration to make the bid,” he said, adding, “She is a wonderful illustration of the mutual enrichment that occurs each day (at ODU). I was not just teaching, but I, too, was learning while in the classroom with her.”

Suit is known for staying on the stump year-round, giving speeches and talks, and never being shy about sharing her opinions. She believes constituent services are largely responsible for her political success.

She also has taken a stand or two that has put her at odds with more conservative Republicans. One involved supporting access to home loans for gay and lesbian couples. “I'm a Reagan Republican,” she explained. “I believe in individual rights. I don’t believe in taking away anyone’s rights because their lifestyle is different from mine.”

ODU Vice President for Institutional Advancement John R. Broderick, whom Suit credits with helping her map her studies, observed, “She is truly considered one of the up-and-coming members of the General Assembly. She has been a great help to us in Richmond and we look forward to working with her in the future.”

And how about the future? Does Suit have broader political ambitions? “You never know what may open up,” she said. “You build a good foundation and wait and see.”