Sheila Bynum-Coleman


Sheila Bynum-Coleman is an American politician and a member of the Virginia Board for Contractors. Appointed by former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, she is the first African-American woman to serve on the state’s Board for Contractors.
Bynum-Coleman was Democratic candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates in 2017, but was defeated in the general election. She was also a 2019 candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates’ 66th District seat. In March 2020, according to the Washington Times, she was charged with two misdemeanor revenge porn counts for allegedly giving nude photos of a woman to the woman's supervisor at her workplace and posting the photos on a stop sign near the workplace.

Education and early career

Bynum-Coleman is a lifelong resident of Chesterfield County and attended Monacan High School. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs with a B.A. She is a mother of five children who all attended Chesterfield County public schools.
Bynum-Coleman spent the majority of her career in real estate and construction. She is a single-family residential contractor, and maintains several small businesses in and around her community. Due to her career experience, she was appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe to the state’s Board for Contractors in 2016, becoming the first African-American woman to hold in such a position.

Legislative priorities

;Education
Bynum-Coleman has a child with special needs, who she believed was not receiving adequate support in the education system in 2015. She has stated that her delegate declined to meet with her prior to the November 2015 election to discuss support for special needs students in schools, which she claims was her impetus for running for office. She aims to improve school services for children with learning disabilities.
She also seeks to raise teacher pay above the national average and improve teacher retention. She also aims to secure additional funding for funding for schools and trade programs.
;Gun laws
In 2016, one of Bynum-Coleman’s daughters was shot. Her daughter survived, but the incident made Bynum-Coleman an avid supporter of gun safety reform. She does not support gun confiscation, but supports safety regulations, such as stricter background checks.
;Healthcare
Bynum-Coleman supports expanding access to affordable healthcare, as well as putting a cap on prescription drug costs.
Bynum-Coleman has been endorsed by former Vice President Joe Biden, Everytown, and Giffords.