Delegate Tyler's mid-session hits and misses

By Joannah Nwokeabia
Capital News Service

RICHMOND -- When freshman Delegate Roslyn Tyler embarked on her term in the General Assembly earlier this year, she received a nugget of helpful advice from Sen. Yvonne Miller: Introduce your bill, don't talk too much and have fun.

Tyler, D-Franklin, said it's the best advice she's gotten in office so far. Working 13-hour days, debating contentious bills, juggling constituent matters, being away from family and dealing with downtown Richmond's infamous parking paucity may not provide much fodder for humor. Nonetheless, Tyler, who describes herself as a serious person, has learned to have fun at her new job.

Even before she stepped foot inside her fifth-floor office in the General Assembly Building when session began in January, she had made local history. The Emporia native is the first woman to represent the 75th District in the House. The district includes Sussex and Greensville counties; parts of Brunswick, Isle of Wight, Lunenburg and Southampton counties; the city of Emporia and part of the city of Franklin.

"There has been a lot of pressure," Tyler said, "but I realize you can't change the world in a day. And when you do not succeed, you pick up and start again the next day."

Tyler has also learned to cope with being a long-distance mother and wife. To keep from missing her husband, Rufus Tyler Sr., and their four children -- Rufus Jr., Ronecia, Rosché and Rameka -- she talks to them on the telephone and takes the hourlong drive back home on the weekends. When her kids are out of school, they also visit her at work.

Tyler said her time away from home has forced her children to become more responsible.

"My kids have done well and become more mature and responsible," she said. "It's a good indication that my husband and I have given them a good foundation."

She said she's found a new family in the veteran lawmakers who have helped her adjust to the Legislature's fast pace.

"Everyone is so willing to help and make the transition easy and that makes you feel like a big family working together," she said with a grin.

Ask Tyler about the budget lawmakers are mulling over, though, and her buoyancy recedes, replaced by a sterner, more serious tone.

Since the legislative session began in January, Tyler, a physical therapist, has introduced four bills, none of which made it to a full House vote.

House Bill 1590 called for higher salaries for public schools teachers; HB 1591 sought to establish a small business advocacy office; HB 1592 would have set regulations for farmers selling produce. All were abandoned earlier on.

And HB 1593, which would require Virginia public schools to adopt tougher education and nutrition standards to prevent childhood obesity, was postponed until next year's legislative session.

The budget appropriation process, which began in earnest last week, allows lawmakers to set aside money for use in their localities. But the freshman delegate hasn't scored much success there, either. Her proposal for funding to add an elevator and handicap access to Wakefield Foundation Center for the Arts in Sussex County was shot down.

"It's disappointing when you submit amendments and they are not included," Tyler said.

For the remainder of the session, making sure rural areas aren't excluded from transportation funding is at the top of her agenda. Tyler said much of the money and services in the transportation plans have been directed toward Northern Virginia. But the southern region of the state needs help with its roads, too -- something she said she will push for in the budget.

"We would like our transportation issues addressed as well," she said.

There have been small victories for the small-town lawmaker. Tyler said she has received several letters from constituents and health lobbyists in support of her child obesity bill. Advocates have already offered to testify before the Legislature when the bill is picked up next year, she said.

When the legislative session wraps up on March 11, Tyler plans to return to the six counties and two cities in her district to meet with town councils, supervisory boards and constituents to give an account of her first term in the Legislature. Thus far, she said she's proud of the job she's done. But, in the end she knows the verdict lies with her constituents.

"I make sure I make the best decisions so I can have a clear conscience," she said.