Virginia Capitol Connections, 2025 Annual Magazine 7 him, but it didn’t work. Having his story out in the open, Scott said, “freed me up.” Scott briefly references the musical “Hamilton,” while this reporter was reminded of another Broadway show that gave us the song “Feelin’ Good.” And now you see a legislator with positivity and confidence. He’s smart. He knows the law, understands politics, and reads the room. He is Speaker of the House. Bonnie Atwood is a retired lobbyist and award-winning writer for Tall Poppies Consulting and David Bailey Associates. He worked at two more low-paying jobs before deciding to return to law. “I worked my tail off,” he said. Scott joined the TANF program in Norfolk, where he was “the first one in, the last one out.” In 2005, he became engaged to a dentist who agreed to move to Norfolk—on the condition that Scott help her set up her private practice. Mission accomplished. Marriage followed, then a baby daughter. When she was young, his wife asked him to cut down on travel. That’s when he settled down in Portsmouth—the district he now represents. A wonderful thing happened in 2013 when then-Governor Bob McDonnell restored Scott’s rights. After navigating some red tape, he was allowed to take and pass the Virginia Bar Exam. He was sworn in by the Honorable S. Bernard Goodwyn, Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court. With major hurdles behind him, Scott decided to throw his hat into politics. In 2018, he ran as a Democrat. But what about bad publicity from the prison story? Scott said his opponent did try to use it to discredit Transition • Employment Education • Benefits Veteran & Family Support Care Centers • Cemeteries Virginia War Memorial www.dvs.virginia.gov 844-VDVS-VETS (844-838-7838) Proudly Serving Those That Served Don Scott presiding over the House chamber. V
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