Lee Ware

Robert Lee Ware, Jr. (born August 20, 1952) is an American politician. Since 1998 he has served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 65th district west of Richmond, made up of Powhatan County and parts of Chesterfield, Fluvanna and Goochland Counties. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Ware has served on the House committees on Agriculture (1998–2001), Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (2002–), Claims (1998–1999), Commerce and Labor (2002–), Conservation and Natural Resources (1998–2001), Corporations, Insurance and Banking (1998–2001), Finance (2001–), Militia and Police (2000–2001), Militia, Police and Public Safety (2002–2003), Mining and Mineral Resources (1998–2000), and Rules (2010–).

Ware was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He received a B.A. degree in history and literature from Wheaton College in 1974, and an M.A. from Harvard University.

Ware taught history and government at Powhatan High School for 15 years. He later taught at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Academy. In 2012 he became academic dean of Benedictine College Preparatory School.

Delegate Ware is also on the House Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources and is the Chairman for the Natural Resources Subcommittee. Delegate Ware has been the Chairman of the Committee since 2004.

Delegate Ware has historically opposed efforts to lift Virginia's selective ban on Sunday hunting.

During the debate on February 1, 2012in the Powhatan Today opinion section Delegate Ware expressed his concern over the dangers surrounding hunting activities in these quotes. “Bullets travel without regard to property lines—and so do shotgun pellets or slugs or even arrows from powerful-enough bows. And always, for an unsuspecting equestrian, there is the peril of encountering a hunter who misconstrues a horse—or a person—for a deer or any other game.” “Equestrians, hikers, bikers, picnickers, bird-watchers, fishermen, canoeists, kayakers: all of these wish, too, to enjoy Virginia’s great outdoors, often on Sunday—and they wish to do so without the threat inevitably posed by the presence of rifle- or shotgun-toting hunters.”

In 2014, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed legislation to permit hunting on Sunday allowing private property owners to choose for their own property, not within 200 yards of church, and no use of hunting deer with hounds. This victory was passed by large margin of 71 in favor and the minority at 27 against. In summation of this signature issue the following was published: "We are riding on a House victory that makes it very clear to everyone that the strangle hold a few had over Sunday hunting should have been released many years ago. Once the democratic process was allowed to work, the will of the people was clear."

Ware served two terms on the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors, 1988–1996. He was board chairman for one year.

On December 17, 1997, state Senator Joseph B. Benedetti resigned his seat to accept Governor-elect Jim Gilmore's offer to become head of the state Department of Criminal Justice Services. 65th district Delegate John Watkins was chosen to succeed Benedetti in a special election on January 6, 1998. On January 13, the day before the Virginia General Assembly convened, Ware won a special election to replace Watkins. He was sworn in three days later.