L. Louise Lucas is a Democratic member of the Senate of Virginia, representing the 18th District since 1992. She was defeated by Republican Randy Forbes in the 2001 special election to replace U.S. Congressman Norman Sisisky, who had died in office. In 2008 two companies which she controls applied for Empowerment Zone bonds to build a conference center in Portsmouth, VA. The request for approval was denied by city council on a 3-2 vote with two council members who had a financial interest in the project abstaining. The companies, still controlled by Lucas, later filed a $97.7 million suit against the City of Portsmouth claiming the companies were discriminated against because they were led and funded mostly by African-Americans. The suit also named those Council members who voted against the original proposal and the CIty Attorney. Council later reconsidered the decision, but nonetheless still denied funding. The suit was dropped after the second denial. [More at Wikipedia]

January 22nd, 1944 in Portsmouth (Age 80)