Elise B. Heinz

Elise Brookfield Heinz (January 14, 1935  January 19, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician. She was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1978 to 1981,[1][2] representing the 23rd district as a Democrat.[3]

Elise B. Heinz
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Arlington and Alexandria
In office
January 11, 1978  January 12, 1982
Preceded byIra M. Lechner
Succeeded byWarren G. Stambaugh
Personal details
BornJanuary 14, 1935
Plainfield, New Jersey
DiedJanuary 19, 2014(2014-01-19) (aged 79)
Arlington, Virginia
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJames E. Clayton
Children2 sons
EducationWellesley College,
Alma materHarvard Law School

Early life and education

Heinz was born on January 14, 1935,[2] in Plainfield, New Jersey, and grew up in Alexandria, Virginia.[1] She graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in 1955 and received an LLB from Harvard Law School in 1961.[1][4]

Career

Before her election to the Virginia House, Heinz served in the Peace Corps, clerked for U.S. Judge David Bazelon and worked as a lawyer in private practice, as well as served on the Arlington School Board and handled cases pro bono for the American Civil Liberties Union and the Women's Legal Defense Fund.[1] Heinz became known for campaigning for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and as of 1973, helped lead the National Organization for Women in Virginia.[5] In 1974, Heinz represented John Patler—who killed George Lincoln Rockwell, founder of the American Nazi Party.[6] As of 1975, she ran ERA-Central, a pro-ERA organization.[7]

Heinz won election to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1977, and won re-election once, but her district consisting of parts of both Arlington and Alexandria was eliminated in the redistricting following the 1980 census. She thus was forced to challenge the three Arlington incumbents and came in fourth in the Democratic primary in September, 1981.[8]

Heinz died on January 19, 2014, in Arlington, Virginia.[1]

References

  1. McDonough, Megan (January 27, 2014). "Elise B. Heinz, lawyer and former Virginia delegate". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  2. "Elise B. Heinz". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  3. Clements, John, ed. (1979). Taylor's Encyclopedia of Government Officials, Federal and State. Vol. 7. Political Research, Inc. p. 166. ISSN 0082-2183.
  4. "Elise B. Heinz, Wellesley '60 [sic], Betrothed to James B. Clayton". The New York Times. February 26, 1961. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  5. Wille, Lois; Moore, Tricia (February 15, 1973). "Opponents blast women's rights". The Herald-News. p. 39.
  6. "Convicted Killer Seeks New Trial". Hartford Courant. April 3, 1974. p. 86.
  7. Jeffrey, Tina (January 23, 1975). "The ERA Rides Again". Daily Press. p. 8.
  8. Two Upset in Virginia: Heinz, Perper Lose Reelection Tries In Virginia Races Incumbents Heinz, Perper Lose In Northern Virginia Primaries, Washington Post (September 9, 1981 p. A1


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