Senator Lucas began her federal career in 1967 as an Apprentice Shipfitter at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, becoming the first Woman Shipfitter in July 1971. She also served as Engineering Draftsman and Naval Architect Technician. Lucas later became the Command Federal Women’s Program Manager at the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Equal Employment Manager at the Supervisor of Shipbuilding Conversion and Repair. In 1985 she left federal service and became Interim Executive Director of the Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project and the following year was appointed Executive Director, continuing in that position until 1992. From 1992 – 1994 Lucas served as Congressional Liaison for Sponsored Program at Old Dominion University. From 1994 – 1998, Lucas was Assistant Professor, Department of Academic Affairs and Special Assistant to the Vice President for University Advancement at her alma mater, Norfolk State University. She is President/CEO of Lucas Lodge, Lucas Transportation, Portsmouth Day Support Program and Southside Direct Care Provider organizations operating in The Lucas Professional Center located in Portsmouth.
Political career
A longtime civic activist, in June 1984 Lucas began her formal political career by becoming the first African American woman to serve as Councilwoman on the Portsmouth City Council. She won more votes than any other candidate in that election. Louise Lucas was elected to the Virginia General Assembly in November 1991 and continues to serve the citizens of the 18th Senatorial District. She has a seat on the following Senate Committees: Education & Health, Courts of Justice, Finance, Local Government and Rules. She is member of the Finance Sub-committee on Claims, Finance Sub-committee on Economic Development/Natural Resources, Finance Sub-Committee on Public Safety, and Education Sub-committee on Health Licensing. Senator Lucas was Chairwoman of the Senate Local Government Committee and a former member of Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; Rehabilitation and Social Services; Transportation; former Chairwoman, Education and Health Special Sub-committee on Public Smoking Legislation; Sub-committee on Mental Health Legislation; Special Sub-committee on Immigration. She also serves as the Chairwoman of Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Committee in Virginia Lucas was the Democratic candidate to replace U.S. Congressman and Blue Dog DemocratNorman Sisisky in the 2001 special election, following his death in office. She was defeated by Republican Randy Forbes In 2008 two companies which Lucas controls applied for Empowerment Zone bonds to build a conference center in Portsmouth. The Portsmouth city council refused to issue the bonds, 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 and the council members voting against the bonds and the City Attorney, claiming racial discrimination against because they were led and funded mostly by African-Americans. However, after the proposal was later reconsidered and again denied, the lawsuit was dropped. Senator Lucas serves on the Governor’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring, Governor’s Commission on State Funding for Public School Construction and the Governor’s Commission on Information Technology. In 2010 she was appointed to the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation; in 2012 she was appointed to the Federal Action Contingency Trust Fund committee and in 2013 was appointed to the Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission. She is also an active member of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and elected Vice-Chair of Outreach with the Democratic Party of Virginia. Senator Lucas has served on various community boards, commissions, civic and service organizations such as: Past President NAACP ; Martin Luther King Leadership Steering Committee and the Norfolk State University Alumni Association. Senator Lucas is also a member of the following organizations: Delta Sigma Theta sorority ; The Links, Incorporated ; Order of Eastern Star, Prince Hall Freemasonry of Virginia, National Women's Political Caucus, National Council of Christians and Jews. Senator Lucas has received numerous awards and honors at the local, state and national level.
Personal life
Senator Lucas is the mother of two daughters, Lisa L. Lucas-Burke and Theresa Lynn Lucas-Lamb who partner with her in various business entities and one son, the late Jeffery Lee Lucas, Sr. Her husband, Otis M. Lucas, who remarried after their divorce, also worked for various Lucas entities before his death in 2014. She has five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
