Politics & Government

Arlington Board Honors Outgoing Sens. Whipple, Ticer

Pair honored with reception, art.

The Arlington County Board honored retiring Democratic state Sens. Patsy Ticer and Mary Margaret Whipple on Tuesday with a small reception and artwork depicting Arlington in various forms.

"We have a happy and sad ceremony of sorts," County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman said. "We're going to have to say good-bye to two longstanding servants of Arlington."

The board publicly thanked each for their 16 years of service in the state Senate and other public offices before that.

Find out what's happening in Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslynwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Zimmerman said Ticer served with "grace, courtesy, spunk and determination" and on one occasion stalked the House speaker to get a bill out of committee.

Zimmerman said Whipple "blazed trails" in the Senate and served as an expert on a wide range of issues, "including chicken droppings." He said Whipple served with "grace, calmness, collegiality, intrepidness."

Find out what's happening in Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslynwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Individual board members took turns praising the senators' character, style and integrity. The pair set the tone and standard for leadership in Arlington County, they said, serving as mentors and effective lawmakers.

"It's been a very short 16 years," Ticer said.

"We've had some hard times during those years, but it's always been great to come home. It's the people that we love and like and agree with -- there aren't a whole lot down there."

Whipple thanked the county for giving the pair "a good sendoff."

"It's been a real honor to represent the people of Arlington all these years," she said. "I've seen this community grow over many years. It started out a wonderful place -- and it still is. You all are taking care of it well."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslyn